Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio, who won a silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has successfully secured a quota for the Philippines in the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio earned an opportunity to upgrade her silver medal finish from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after booking a ticket to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Petecio secured a quota for the Philippines after defeatingTurkish foe Esra Kahraman Yildiz in the women’s 57kg division via split decision in the semifinals of the 1st World Qualification Tournament for boxing in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
On Saturday, the Filipina Olympian took a breather as she watched the PBA Philippine Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was hoping to secure her Paris berth at the 2023 Asian Games, but she fell short against Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei in the round of 16.
[ALSO READ: 'Blessed': Paris-bound Nesthy Petecio says 2024 Olympics could be her last]
That did not stop the Pinay boxer from bouncing back in other Olympic qualifiers.
“Sobrang blessed kasi hindi ko po inaasahan na makapaglalaro ako ulit, lalo na after noong Asian Games na hindi ako nakakuha ng slot doon. Iniisip ko kasi world championship ‘yon kaya mahirap na talaga ‘yon. Lalo na’t dalawang slot lang po sa timbang ko. Sobrang blessed po ako, sobrang saya ko. Binigyan po ulit ako ng pagkakataon ni Lord na makapaglaro sa Olympics po," Petecio told One Sports.
The Pinay boxer then shared what she's planning to work on.
“Dapat pagtibayin ko ‘yung depensa ko, ‘yung footwork ko, at mas palakasin pa ‘yung suntok ko. Medyo nakapagpapatumba na po ako ngayon," she chuckled. "So, mas gusto nilang mas ma-develop pa ‘yong power ko."
Petecio is set to head to the US on April 9 to start training in full.
“Unang plano po nila, magu-US training camp po kami. Then the rest, basta madami po. Halos abroad na po kami halos," she added.
She will be joining her fellow boxers, Aira Villegas and Eumir Marcial, as well as other Filipino athletes EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo, and Aleah Finnegan in the 2024 Olympics.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports)