NESTHY Alcayde Petecio, whose amateur boxing career began in Davao City, is expected to win a gold medal in the Korotkov Memorial Tournament slated May 15 to 20 in Russia.
Women's national boxing coach Nolito "Boy" Velasco, in an interview with Sun.Star Davao in Panabo City recently, said Petecio, who hails from Tuban in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, has been impressive in her last two tournaments where she won back-to-back gold medals.
She was women's 54-57 kilograms featherweight champion in the 1st Indian Open International Boxing Tournament held in February this year then she also clinched the women's 57-kg title in the XXXV International Felis Stamm Tournament for Elite Men and Women in Warsaw, Poland in March.
Velasco said, "Maganda ang nilalaro ni Nesthy. Nag-gold sya sa India at sa Poland. Sobrang matindi mga nakalaban nya dun, mabibigat na boxers talaga."
The veteran coach, brother of Olympics boxing silver medalist Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, also said that Petecio will be among the country's strong bets in the upcoming Russia invitational.
"Malaki ang chance nya na manalo ng gold kahit na malalakas din mga makakatapat nya sa Russia. Preparasyon na rin nya ito para sa Asian Games. Isa sya sa mga panlaban natin sa Asian Games," he said, adding that Petecio is also groomed to qualify in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Velasco said that her weight division is entered in the Olympics.
The Russia-bound national boxing team is also composed of Carlo Paalam, Marvin Tabamo, Mario Fernandez, James Palicte, Joel Bacho, Eumir Marcia and Aira Villegas.
Velasco added that the boxers are being prepared for the competition.
"Nutrition 40 percent, physical 40 and psychological 20 para 100 percent handa sila. Before umalis may session talaga sila psychologist kasi mental naman talaga lahat ng laro. Kailangang balanse, hindi lang physical preparations pati rin nutrition at psychological."
He also shared that he brings rice cooker whenever they travel abroad so the boxers can eat rice for their meals since there are times when they compete in countries where rice is not a staple food.