Aparri assures RP of bronze in Asian women's slugfest

Alice Kate Aparri ended Team Philippines’ string of losses in the Asian Boxing Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships when the Baguio City native defeated her South Korean rival in Astana, Kazakhstan. Aparri scored a clinical 9-1 win over So Ming-Kyung that somehow eased the pain of the Philippine contingent’s back-to-back losses in the week-long tournament. Her victory assured the country of a bronze. Aparri, a gold medalist in the 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games, used her speed and experience to confuse her Korean foe to open up with a 3-0 lead after the first round. She did not slowed down piling up the points in the succeeding rounds while maintaining her sold defense that frustrated her opponent. Kyung’s solitary point came in the third when she saw a slight opening in Aparri’s stonewall defense. The 25-year-old Aparri said she credits her strong performance to hard work. “Even when I’m not in training, I hit the gym and lift weights. It helps me develop my power. And I needed it today to avenge the losses of my teammates." Compatriots Josie Gabuco and Nesthy Petecio were eliminated by their opponents from India early in the tournament. Gabuco lost to two-time world champion Mery Kom Chungneijang while Petecio went down fighting against Pavitra. Aparri, who scored two knock-out victories in Laos on her way to winning the 48-kilogram division gold, will next face hometown bet Boranbaeva in Saturday’s semi-finals. – GMANews.TV