By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Nesthy Petecio has three boxers in mind who can give “hell” in her quest for the elusive gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Though she isn’t underestimating the other entries in the women’s 57kg, the 32-year-old Davaoeño believes Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova, Italy’s Irma Testa, and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-ting are the fighters to watch in the sports’ global showpiece.
“Ang laging nasa isip ko tatlong bansa lang talaga: Kazakhstan, Italy and Chinese Taipei,” said Petecio in Tuesday’s PSA Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“Although hindi ko ina-underestimate yung ibang mga boxers, yung iba din kasi don hindi ko pa nakakalaban. Pero kung anong mangyari sa draw ko, pinaghahandaan ko talaga,” she added.
Lin and Ibragimova won the gold and silver at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, with the Taiwanese also responsible for booting Petecio out in the opening round of the said regional event.
Testa, for her part, is the same rival she beat in the Tokyo Olympics.
Most Tokyo Olympians qualified for Paris, but reigning champion Sena Irie of Japan wouldn’t be competing.
Still, Petecio wants to dispel the notion that her second Olympic journey is easier after having won the silver medal in the same weight class in Tokyo three years back.
“Hindi kesyo naka-medal na ako sa Olympics, magiging madali na para sakin. Iba na yung level ngayon, lalo na at ang hirap ng pinagdaanan namin sa qualifying. May halong pressure pero mostly, excited ako,” she said.
Petecio is one of the five boxers who will compete in the Games — the most since the 1996 Atlanta edition. She will join teammates Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan.
She said she never expected to return to the Olympics, especially after a first-round exit in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year, but she looked back at what really made her stay after winning in Tokyo.
“Actually sabi nila pwede na kami huminto after nung Tokyo, pero pinili kong mag-stay kasi alam kong may kulang pa, may gusto pa akong kunin. Na-inspire ako dun sa isang nag-comment sa social media. Sabi nya, kaya siguro kami pina-qualify ulit ni Lord kasi naiwan namin yung ginto sa Tokyo,” Petecio said.
