RIO DE JANEIRO—Marestella Torres-Sunang insisted this year’s Olympics was her last, but she's far from done as far as her career is concerned.
Sunang bared she plans to compete in the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games in the next two years.
“Wala na,” said Sunang, 35, when asked about the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. “Siguro, maximum ko na lang, kung healthy at walang major injury, kaya pa mag-Asian Games.”
In her third and final Olympics, Sunang registered a disappointing 6.22 meters to finish 14th in Group B of the qualifiers, failing to make a last hurrah in the world’s biggest stage.
[See Marestella Torres claims she hurt her hip after awkward landing during warm-ups]
Sunang is now zeroing in on the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games, where she is out to reclaim the country's glory after settling for a bronze last year in Singapore following her pregnancy.
“Next year, kaya pa SEA Games basta healthy lang. Kababalik ko lang last year. Siyempre gusto ko makuha gold next year. Kakayanin ko mag-SEA Games,” said Sunang.
“Bago mag-retire, Asian Games muna. Siguro ‘yun na ‘yung maximum ko,” said Sunang.
Despite being in the twilight of her career, Sunang said she is not inclined to enter coaching while still active.
“Ayoko pa mag-coach kasi hindi ka makaka-concentrate. Kailangan, mag-coach ka, coach ka lang,” Sunang said.