RIZA Pasuit is set to face Uzbekistan’s Uktamova Nigina in the women’s 57kg semifinals on Saturday (December 7) at the 2024 ASBC Elite Men and Women Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, looking for a victory that would secure her a spot in the gold-medal match.
The Philippines has secured at least two bronze medals in Thailand, thanks to strong performances by featherweights Ian Clark Bautista and Pasuit in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night.
Bautista, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, earned a dominant unanimous decision victory over Turkmenistan’s Muhanov Dovlet in the men’s 57kg division, advancing to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Pasuit, a Thailand Open medalist, delivered an impressive performance in the women’s 57kg category, outclassing Sri Lanka’s Kasthuri Keshani Hansika with quick and precise exchanges to secure another unanimous decision win.
Filling in the shoes of two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio, Pasuit demonstrated her skill and composure, keeping the Philippines’ hopes alive for a potential gold medal.
However, it was a tough day for lightweight Mervin Lucky Alcober, who fell to Kyrgyzstan’s Ryspek Bektenov in a 0-5 defeat in the men’s 60kg quarterfinals.
Bautista will take onon Uzbekistan’s Mirzakhalilov Mirazizbek in a bid to reach the finals.