Bacyadan wins despite point deduction

MANILA, Philippines — Hergie Bacyadan of the Philippines fought the fight of her life in the third and deciding round to overcome an opening-round point-deduction and edge Veronika Nakota of Hungary yesterday, moving a step closer to barging into the Paris Olympics this July.

Penalized for excessive holding in the first round and trailing by all judges’ scorecard entering the last, the world vovinam champion from Kalinga Apayao gave everything to steal the split decision win, 3-2, in their round-of-16 women’s 75-kilogram duel in the second World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.

Two judges scored it in favor of Nakota, a 2022 world juniors’ champion who was born in Ukraine but moved to Hungary after the Russian invasion, 29-27, while the rest of three all scored it in a 28-all tie.

But miracle of miracles, Bacyadan got the nod of those three judges via count back to escape with the close win.

That sent Bacyadan closer to the Paris Games where fellow boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas await.

But first, she would have to hurdle either Aziza Zokoriva of Uzbekistan or Maryelis Yriza of Venezuela, who were clashing at press time, in today’s crucial quarterfinal bout.

Also eyeing a Paris berth is Carlo Paalam, who will battle Indian Sachin Siwan in the men’s 57kg class today.