By MARK REY MONTEJO
After a heartbreaking quick exit in the 2024 Paris Olympics, boxer Hergie Bacyadan will try to explore, and hopefully figure things out, in the next few months as she competes in other sports.
In the heroes’ welcome party for Team PH held at New Port World Resorts in Pasay City recently, the 29-year-old Bacyadan revealed that she’s joining vovinam and kickboxing tournaments soon.
“Sa ngayon, mag-focus muna ako sa iba pang sports na sasalihan ko talaga which is kickboxing and vovinam,” said Bacyadan.
A gold medalist in women’s -66kg vovinam in last year’s World Championship, Bacyadan is still open for another shot at Olympic glory after a failed bid in Paris.
The next Olympics is scheduled in Los Angeles four years from now.
Apart from boxing, vovinam and kickboxing, the pride of Kalinga province is also a well decorated wushu artist, having won a silver in last year’s SEA Games apart from competing in the world championships.
Though she’s a neophyte when it comes to boxing, Bacyadan is not using it as an alibi.
But she’s grateful for the experience and the lesson she learned during her Olympic stint where she lost to
Chinese top seed Li Qian in the women’s 75kg class.
“Sabi ko nga, talo talaga. So learn your lesson na lang,” she said. “At mai-improve pa yung mga kulang, yung mga kailangan pang ayusin, ayusin na para sa susunod na competition at least wala ka ng kahit na anong niisip pa na kulang.”
According to her coaches, Bacyadan has the power, however, she must improve her timing and follow up to her strong punches.
“Actually, sabi ng mga coaches na pwede pa daw ako LA-28, mag-training lang, and tumutok siguro mga straight ko ng sabi nila 3 years to 2 years. Pwedeng-pwede na ako may pagsabayan sa mga top seeded eh,” Bacyadan added.
“So sa ngayon, sabi ko hindi ko pa masabi kung itutuloy ko pa pero sana, ibigay sa akin ni Lord yung pagkakataon na yun,” added Bacyadan, who said that competing in the Olympics along with her idols Nesthy
Petecio, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam was a great experience.
“Siguro may pressure man, pero pagdating mo ng ring, wala na. So ayun, sabi ko nga sa mga [idol] ko na Olympian, sila Nesthy, sila Marcial, sila Carlo, sabi ko makatungtong pa lang ako ng Olympic,” said Bacyadan.
“Makasama ko kayo, sobrang proud na proud na ako sa sarili ko.”
