AN ‘almost’ finish in Tokyo 2020 only left silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam wanting more.
When back then, the grueling wait to finally get on the Olympic stage was the hurdle, the test staring them in the face now is the growth of competition.
The good news is that's just what the Filipino boxers have prepared for.
“Ang pinagkaiba talaga this time, hindi na pandemic ngayon. Lahat, nagkaroon ng exposure, lahat nakapag-training sa ibang bansa. Hindi na magiging ganun kadali ngayong Olympics, mas mataas ang kompetisyon ngayon,” Petecio told media during a send-off dinner arranged by Philippine Airlines last Wednesday.
As the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal in boxing, the 32-year-old was very much deserving in her designation - alongside Paalam - as the country’s flagbearer in the quadrennial meet.
READ: Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam named PH flagbearers for Paris Olympics
And once the bell actually rings, Petecio is eager to test her mettle against foes who have all vastly improved just like her.
“Sa part ko, ‘yung mga naranasan ko sa Tokyo, magagamit ko. Mas pinapakinggan ko na sarili ko, katawan ko. So kung mauulit yung pressure katulad sa Tokyo, alam na alam ko na paano idi-deal,” she explained.
Paalam sa panghihinayang
For his part, the 25-year-old Paalam knows full well that it will all be a matter of outsmarting his opponents - even more so now he has made the jump to the men’s 57-kg category, where his lack of size is even more pronounced.
“Mas matangkad sila, so dadaanin ko sa talino. Kailangan maging idol ko sarili ko. Gawin lang ang best, kasi hindi basta-basta ang kalaban,” he explained. “Sa akin, sa bawat laban, bibigay ko lang 100 percent ko para walang regrets.”
As they set out to control what they can control, the two are eager to show up again for the Philippines, especially since they’re front-and-center during the opening ceremonies.
“Hindi lang apelyido ang dala namin, buong Pilipinas sa buong mundo. Lalaban kami hindi lang para sa sarili amin,” Paalam said.
Petecio added: “Na-surprise ako na ako ang napili na magdadala ng Pilipinas. Sobrang honored.”
Paalam and Petecio are joined by fellow silver finisher Eumir Marcial, as well as debutants Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan in the Philippine delegation for boxing.
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