Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) – Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio’s path to the Tokyo Olympics became uncertain after the sporting world ground to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like many athletes who had to face many challenges because of the coronavirus, Petecio had to settle for online home training – made worse by intermittent internet connection.
The 29-year-old pride of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur admitted she had a hard time adjusting to that kind of training outside the ring.
“To be honest po, ang hirap po gumalaw ngayong pandemic especially po sa training namin. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa ako nakakaadjust,” Petecio told CNN Philippines last September.
[Translation: To be honest, it’s hard to move during this pandemic especially with my training. Until now, I have not been able to adjust to the current situation.]
At that time, Petecio also wasn’t even sure if she’d still have a shot to compete in the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Games, after the world Olympic boxing qualifiers were canceled in May last year.
The reigning world female featherweight champion failed to get an outright Olympic berth in March 2020, after losing to Japan’s Sena Irie in the quarterfinals of the Asia-Oceania qualifiers.
But like a true fighter, Petecio continued to persevere in maintaining her form and punching strength, at a time when isolation was – and still is – one of the best ways to beat an unseen enemy.
“Ngayon andito ako sa bahay ng papa ko, pansamantalang sya muna hahawak sa training namin ng kapatid ko. Pangarap ito ng papa ko na makalaro ako sa Olympics,” said Petecio, who considers his father, Teodoro, as his first boxing coach when she got immersed in the sport when she was just seven years old.
[Translation: I’m here in my father’s house and he will handle my training with my brother. It is my father’s dream for me to compete in the Olympics.]
After months of being stuck at home, the new year dawned new beginnings for Petecio after the government in January approved the training bubble for Filipino Olympic hopefuls in Calamba, Laguna.
“Sa wakas! Pinayagan na din nila kami na makabalik training na. Nakakadagdag sa morale po yun naming mga atleta at pumayag na po sila finally po talaga, halos mag isang taon din kami naghintay sa approval po nila talaga,” Petecio said.
[Translation: Finally! They (government) allowed us to return to training. This gave a boost to my morale and to the other athletes because they finally allowed us to train. We waited for that approval for almost a year.]
A year since her shocking quarterfinal exit in the Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifiers, Petecio – along with fellow Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam – finally nailed the coveted Tokyo Olympics berth by virtue of their highest standing in their respective weight categories.
“I’m so grateful and blessed upon receiving this news. My coaches Nolito Velasco and Reynaldo Galido informed and congratulated me,” Petecio said.
Petecio and the other Olympic-bound Filipino boxers went to Thailand, a known boxing power in Asia, to train for the country’s elusive Olympic medal in boxing.
When the Tokyo Olympics started, Petecio’s journey to greatness was filled with solid blows as she faced an early challenge in top seed Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei in the second round.
She earlier defeated Congolese fighter Marcelat Sakobi Matshu in her Olympic debut in the first round.
Petecio relied on her tested solid hits to score an upset win over Lin, sending shock waves that she can contend for the gold.
The Filipina boxing sensation then outlasted Colombia’s Yeni Arias in the quarterfinals and came from behind to defeat the taller Irma Testa of Italy in the semifinals.
But a familiar challenge came in Petecio’s quest for the country’s second Olympic gold medal. It was Irie, the Japanese fighter who denied her the outright Olympic berth in Tokyo.
Petecio had beaten Irie in the world championship in 2019.
It was a close fight for the gold, but the hometown bet emerged on top, as decided by the five judges.
RELATED: Boxer Nesthy Petecio bags silver for PH in women’s featherweight
Petecio may have been a punch away from winning the gold, but her silver medal shines in a country that adores boxing, and waited for 25 years for an Olympic medal in the sport.
“Chasing the gold pa rin po tayo. Hindi pa po tapos. May Paris pa po,” Petecio told Filipino journalists present in the Tokyo Summer Games.
[Translation: We will still chase the gold. This is not yet over. There’s still Paris (2024 Olympics).]
Truly, Petecio’s silver medal feat glitters like a gold amid life’s uncertainties.
