NESTHY PETECIO scored an impressive win in women’s boxing while Kurt Barbosa suffered a setback in men’s taekwondo at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday morning.

Petecio advanced to the women’s featherweight round of 16 after posting a 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 3027 and 30-27 unanimous victory over Marcelat Sakobi Matshu of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Kokugikan Arena.

Petecio, 29, sized up Matshu in the first round before turning up the heat in the second round. The former world champion employed quick footwork to outbox the Congolese in the third and final round.

The world No. 7 Petecio will face world No. 1 Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan in the round of 16 on Monday at 12:39 pm (Philippine time) at the Kokugikan Arena.

Meanwhile, the No. 16 jin Barbosa lost to No.1 Jang Jun of South Korea, 6-26, in the men’s -58 kilogram round of 16 at the Makuhari Messe Hall A

The 5-foot-7 Barbosa struggled against the 5-foot-11 Jang, who used his advantage in reach — hitting the Filipino almost at will — to win by point gap in the third round.

Action packed Sunday

Rower Cris Nievarez, shooter Jayson Valdez and boxer Irish Magno will test their mettle in Tokyo today, Sunday.

Nievarez will be eyeing for a semifinals berth in the men’s single sculls, while Valdez and Magno will make their Olympic debut in the men’s air rifle 10-meter range shooting and women’s flyweight boxing, respectively.

The 21-year-old Nievarez will pit his skill against Mohammed Al Khafaji of Iraq, Luca Verthein Ferreira of Brazil, Jordan Parry of New Zealand, Oliver Zeidler of Germany and Mindaugas Griskonis of Lithuania in quarterfinals 4 at 11:10 a.m. at the Sea forest@WaterwayN

Nievarez, the first Pinoy rower to enter the Olympics quarterfinal round, needs a top three finish to advance to the semifinals on July 28 and earn a chance to make it to the podium.

At the Asaka Shooting Range, the 25-year-old Valdez will compete in the 47-shooter field of the men’s air rifle 10-meter range shooting qualification phase at 12 p.m. Valdez has to make it to the top 8 to advance to the final round at 2:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Magno, 29, will attempt to demolish Christine Ongare, 27, of Kenya in the round of 32 at the Kokukigan Arena at 10:15 a.m. to advance to the round of 16 on July 29.

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