Pinays breach Top 10 world rankings

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino lady fighters – Alice Kate Appari and Nesthy Petecio – made it to the Top 10 of the February 2011 world rankings released by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

Appari was ranked No. 4 among all campaigners in the 48-kg division, her standing boosted by a bronze medal feat in the women’s world championships and the Asian joust last year. Petecio, on the other hand, was listed No. 7 in the 54-kg class, gaining from her quarterfinal stint in the Barbados world meet.

Among Asians, the two Filipina stalwarts were second best with only world light flyweight champion Mery Kom Hivianget of India ahead of Appari in the continent and 2010 worlds bantam runner-up Hye Song Kim of North Korea ranked higher than Petecio.

A third Phl pugilist, Guangzhou Asian Games silver medalist Annie Albania, was ranked 37th in the world. Flyweight Albania, however, was delisted from the national team after failing to get back to camp last month and has since retired from competition.

Appari and Petecio’s No. 2 ranking in Asia made them eligible to compete in the Asian Cup women’s boxing tournament in April in Haikou, China, where only the Top 4 boxers in the region get invitation.

“We’re happy that two of our boxers figured prominently in the world women’s boxing rankings for 2011,” said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson, lauding the two’s perseverance and hard work. “Hopefully, after the Asian tournament they will both be No. 1 in Asia.”

In the absence of Albania, Appari and Petecio loom as the country’s best bet for a slot to next year’s Olympics in London, where women’s boxing will make its debut in the 51, 60, and 75 kg classes. Appari  can move up to flyweight while Petecio can slide down one notch, according to Picson.

The lady boxers will vie for Olympic berths next year, at the 2012 AIBA Women’s World Championships in Chongqing, China.

“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang kanilang pagsasanay para sa hinaharap na international competition (They train continuously for future international competitions, especially the Olympic qualifier),” said Picson.