Gold kay Barriga

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan--Tuluyan nang inangkin ni Olympic-bound Marc Anthony Barriga ng PLDT-ABAP National Boxing Team ang gintong medalya matapos talunin si David Ayrapetyan ng Russia sa Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament dito sa Universal Uzbekistan Sports Complex.

Umiskor si Barriga ng isang 10-9 iskor para igupo si Ayrapetyan, magla­laro rin sa 2012 Olympic Games sa London sa Hul­yo.

Nagtabla sina Barriga at Ayrapetyan sa first round, 3-3 at second round, 6-6, ngunit sa tubong Panabo, Davao del Norte ibinigay ng mga hurado ang panalo sa third round.

Humugot ng puntos ang 17-anyos na si Barri­ga mula sa kanyang mga counterpunches sa 29-an­yos na si Ayrapetyan, ang European champion at ang 2011 World Championships silver medalist.

Si Barriga ang nag-i­isang boksingerong naka­pasok sa 2012 London Olympics.

Napasakamay naman ni Ian Clark Bautista ng Negros Occidental ang bron­^­ze medal sa flyweight category.

“It was a great fight between two determined and smart fighters,” ani ABAP executive director Ed Picson. “It would be nice to see how the two would fare in London and if they can have another showdown in the finals. It will surely be entertaining and exciting.”

Ang Pilipinas ang ta­nging bansang hindi nanggaling sa Central Asia.

“We’re the only non-Central Asian country here. We dared into the lion’s den, so to speak, and we took a big risk, but it paid off. As ABAP president Ricky Vargas promised, we will let our boys have the best training, the widest experience and the proper tools available to us in order to get the optimal performance from our boxers.”

Samantala, nag-eensayo na si woman boxer Nesthy Petecio sa Qinhuangdao, China bilang pag­hahanda sa AIBA World Women’s Championships sa Biyernes.

Puntirya ni Petecio na maibigay sa bansa ang ika­lawang Olympic ticket sa boxing.