Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio is dedicating her gold medal from the 2019 Aiba Women’s World Boxing Championships to her family and to all women who served as her inspiration.
The 27-year old Petecio, a Davao native but who has been residing in Baguio as a student, has been juggling her training and studies prior to her boxing stint held Oct. 13 in Ulan-Ude, Russia.
Petecio ruled the 57 kilograms featherweight division against Russia’s Liudmila Vorontsova by split decision.
She encourages women who are inclined to combative sports to pursue their dreams. “Tiwala lang sa sarili,” she said.
In an interview, Petecio said her gold medal in the 2019 Aiba Women’s World Boxing Championships was her comeback after losing in a 2-3 split decision to China’s Yin Ju Hua during the 2018 Asian Games.
“Sunud-sunod dati ang gintong medalya ko pero natalo ako last year at talagang gumuho ang mundo ko. Pero sa tulong ng aking mga coach sa Philippine National Team, ipinagpatuloy ko ang training at patuloy ang laban,” Petecio said.
Petecio has been residing in Baguio for most of her boxing career together with her sister Nicea and brother Norland who are also boxing athletes at the University of Baguio.
Of her 20 years in boxing, Petecio said, “lahat ng laban ay mahirap dahil ang mga kalaban mo ay sumusuntok din.”
Coach Rey Galido of the Philippine National Team said Petecio is set to travel to Goldcoast, Australia by the end of the month for her sparring training in preparation for the SEA Games by November.
Petecio is also scheduled to take bouts in the Olympic qualifying rounds in China by February next year.
The AIBA World Boxing Championship is a biennial amateur boxing competition organized by the International Boxing Association. – Jessa Mardy Samidan
April 24, 2024
