TOKYO Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, who ended her short vacation in Davao Friday, December 2, vowed to give 1,000 percent focus on her preparations for the Asian Games in China next year, which offers automatic Paris 2024 Olympics slots to podium finishers.
The 2019 Aiba Women's world boxing champion, after spending quality time with her family in Sta. Cruz, Digos City, and Davao City will rejoin the national boxing team's training in Baguio City starting December 5 with a renewed hope for a better 2023.
She was scheduled to fly back to Manila Friday, December 2.
"Kahit maka bronze daw sa Asian Games, makaka-qualify na kami sa Paris. Yun ang pinaghahandaan talaga namin (Even if we get bronze in the Asian Games, we can qualify for Paris. That's what we're really preparing for)," she said during the special edition of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum held Wednesday, November 30, at the SM City Davao.
Petecio aims to redeem herself in the China Asiad set from September 23 to October 8, 2023, recalling how depressed she was after her controversial split decision loss to China’s Yin Jun Hua in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
She said, "Last Asian Games 2018, nakalaban nako China. This Asian Games basin China gihapon. Kung pwedeng gawin ang 1,000 percent focus gawin ko lahat. Kung ano ang focus ko sa Olympics, doble dito kasi mahirap katapat ang China (Last Asian Games 2018, my opponent was from China. This Asian Games, I may still be up against a China boxer. I'll give 1,000 percent focus in my training, I will do everything. How I focused in the Olympics, I will double it this time since it's difficult to face a Chinese)."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier announced that continental multisport events such as the Asian Games, Pacific Games, Pan-American Games, European Games, and other similar meets in Africa will function as qualifiers. Thus simplifying the road to the Paris Games boxing competitions.
However, two IOC-supervised world qualifiers are also set in 2024 since the International Boxing Association remains suspended due to credibility and leadership controversies.
Following Petecio's bronze finish in the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Men & Women Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, her coaches told her to work extra hard on her speed and reflexes.
"Nawala daw bilis and reflexes ko, andyan pa rin ang power. Kung ano ang galaw ko nung Olympics, dapat ganun pa rin (They said I lost my speed and reflexes, but the power is still there. The way I moved in the Olympics, it should still be the same)," the country's first female Olympic boxing medalist said.
She is set to compete in the Thailand Open, another tournament in Bulgaria, the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and Asian Games next year.
"Actually wala kaming Christmas break and New Year's Day break (We don't have Christmas and New Year's Day breaks)," she said, that's why she maximized her time with her family during her vacation and brought them to local tourist destinations and resorts.
Reducing weight will be one of her priorities when she resumes training but Petecio claims that she is confident to return to her fighting form with the guidance of national team nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and her coaches.
Before the Tokyo Olympics, she lost at least 10 kilograms so she said it would not be a problem for her to go back to her 57 kg weight. She currently weighs 61kg. MLSA