Nesthy Petecio crashed out of the Asian Games in the Round of 16 of women's boxing 57 kg division after absorbing a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei's Yu Ting-lin.
The 31-year-old boxer aired an apology to Filipino supporters after the early exit.
"Pasensya na kung nabigo ko kayo rito," Petecio told One Sports in a post-match interview in China.
After that Petecio aired an appeal to online bashers and defended other athletes who didn't finish with a medal, particularly Margielyn Didal who failed to defend her gold on the skateboarding event.
"Sana maintindihan niyo na kaming mga atleta. Madami din akong nababasa kapag natatalo, like Margielyn Didal, ang daming comments doon, bad comments sa kanya, sana maintindihan niyo po, hindi niyo rin po kasi alam ‘yung struggles na pinagdadaanan naming mga atleta," Petecio appealed.
"Hopefully sa pagkatalo namin, ‘yung mga atletang natalo, hindi pinalad dito, sana suportahan niyo, i-encourage niyo pa kami na mas ipagpatuloy pa na abutin ‘yung pangarap papuntang Olympics. Sana ‘wag niyong i-down pa kasi sobrang hirap bumangon kapag nasa sitwasyon na natalo kami tapos ‘yun pa ‘yung mababasa namin."
Petecio will try to book a Paris Olympics ticket in different qualifiers as she admitted that the quadrennial meet next year might be her last.
"Nandun pa rin ang mindset ko na makalaro sa Paris. Para sa akin last shot na ‘to ng career ko. Tinry ko rito na maka-qualify nga, kasi isa ito sa hindi ganun kabigat kaysa sa World. Hindi ko man nakuha ‘yung panalo ngayon, ‘yung maka-qualify ako para sa Paris, tuluy-tuloy pa rin hanggang next Olympics qualifying (tournament)."
According to the Olympics website, there are still two qualifying tournaments lined up for the Paris games. The first will be held in Italy on February to March next year, and will be followed by another OQT in Thailand from May to June, also in 2024.