Petecio, Paalam want another crack at Olympic gold

MANILA, Philippines — Back as Southeast Asian Games featherweight champ, Pinay boxing ace Nesthy Petecio is determined to book a return trip to the Olympics and upgrade the silver she previously won in Tokyo.

“Yung motto ko na ‘walang hinto hangga’t walang ginto’ binabalik-balikan ko, pinaghuhugutan ko ng lakas para sumabak uli sa Olympics,” said Petecio, who led the Philippine boxers’ four-gold, five-silver, one-bronze harvest in the Cambodia SEAG.

A former world champion, Petecio got her chance at Olympic glory in Tokyo but fell short in a 5-0 loss to hometown bet Sena Irie.

“Gold talaga sa Olympics, yun talaga ang gusto ko. Idol ko so champ Haidie (weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz), siya yung tinitignan ko. Pati sila (world champion gymnast) Caloy (Yulo), (pole vault ace) EJ (Obiena),” said the two-time SEAG ruler.

Petecio’s fellow silver medalist in the 2020 Olympiad, Carlo Paalam, is equally hungry for another crack at the Holy Grail. Paalam may have to slide down to 51kg from his current weight of 54kg, though.

“Sana may 54 sa Olympics. Kung wala, no choice kundi mag 51. Basta gagawin ko lang ang best ko (to qualify again),” he said.

Per reports, the men’s competition in Paris will have 51kg as the lowest weight class with 57kgs as the next.

The Pinoy and Pinay pugilists will hunt for berths to Paris in the coming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.