2024 PARIS OLYMPICS 6: NESTHY PETECIO WINS AGAINST FRENCH AMINA ZIDANI, ENTERS QUARTERFINALS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Aug 2024
Nesthy Petecio shocked the cheering French home crowd at the North Paris Arena on Friday (early Saturday in Manila) with a dazzling performance against France's heroine Amina Zidani in the round-of-16 of the women's 57kg weight class.
Petecio started slowly in the first round, but recovered in the second, and fought fiercely in the third round to win in four of the five judges' scorecards and advance to the quarterfinals in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Four judges scored the bout for Petecio 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 while another judge had it 29-28 for Zidani.
The 30-year-old French opponent was seeded third, and enjoyed a bye in the round-of-32. But her Olympic campaign was stopped by Petecio, who is now just one win away from a sure medal in the Olympics. She will fight in the quarterfinals on Sunday evening, against China's Xu Zichun, who won via split decision against Colombian sixth seed Valeria Arboleda Mendoza.
* * *
USA men's basketball will play against Puerto as the hunt for a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal continues Saturday. USA Basketball just came out of a 103-86 victory against South Sudan, Steve Kerr's squad seeks to improve their record to 3-0 at the 2024 Paris Olympics and shoots for the number one spot in the knockout round that starts on Tuesday.
This is the first year Puerto Rico is playing at the Olympic Games since achieving one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, defeating Team USA, 92-73 at the 2004 Athens Olympics. That win made Puerto Rico the first team to beat the Americans since NBA players were allowed to join for USA Basketball at the Olympics.
The only player that remained in that team in 2004 and is still playing for Team USA now is LeBron James, who is returning to the Olympics for the first time since he joined the 2012 London Olympics.
USA Basketball roster at 2024 Paris Olympics listed in numerical order with Olympic appearance in parentheses.
No. 4 Stephen Curry, Guard (First)
No. 5 Anthony Edwards, Guard (First)
No. 6 LeBron James (Fourth)
No. 10 Jayson Tatum, Forward (Second)
No. 7 Kevin Durant, Forward (Fourth)
No. 8 Derrick White, Forward (First)
No. 9 Tyrese Haliburton, Guard (First)
No. 11 Joel Embiid, Center (First)
No. 12 Jrue Holiday, Guard (Second)
No. 13 Bam Adebayo, Center (Second)
No. 14 Anthony Davis, Center (Second)
No. 15 Devin Booker, Guard (Second)
Coaching Staff: Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors), Mark Few (Gonzaga Bulldogs), Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers) and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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