Two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio is determined to pursue Olympic gold in Los Angeles 2028 despite the possible axing of boxing in the Games.
Just over three months after the Olympic Games Paris 2024, two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio is already looking forward to Los Angeles 2028.
After bagging the bronze medal in Paris, Petecio is hoping to finally complete the medal haul with a gold in Los Angeles.
However, there’s a possibility that boxing will not be in the next Summer Games should the International Olympic Committee (IOC) fail to find a new international boxing body by 2025.
But as of now, Petecio, who was present to watch the PVL match between the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, said that she hasn’t received any news on the matter from her National Sports Association.
“Sinasabi po sa amin ng NSA ko po, si Sec-Gen Marcus [Manalo]. Hindi pa naman sure [kung mawawala ang women’s boxing sa Olympics] so nagugulat nalang kami sa mga mas updated ‘yung ibang tao,” Petecio told reporters.
According to reports, IOC president Thomas Bach said that a decision on the inclusion of boxing in the 2028 Olympics will need to be made by next year.
The good news is that World Boxing, a newly established international federation, is preparing to bid for the sport's spot in the quadrennial event.
In fact, World Boxing is nearing the required 50-National Olympic Committee (NOC) membership threshold with 37 members so far, including nations like the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
World Boxing is led by the Common Cause Alliance, which split from the Russian-influenced International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2022.
Amid all of these ongoing developments, Petecio is just hopeful to have one last shot at gold come LA 2028.
“Siyempre, pinagdadasal ko talaga na sana matuloy kasi medyo nabitin tayo ng Paris 2024. Gusto ko talagang makumpleto ‘yung kulay ng medalya sa Olympics. Gusto ko pang isang sipa pa tayo sa LA,” said Petecio.
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