The Philippine Star

PETECIO LONGS FOR NORMAL WORKOUT

- By JOHN BRYAN ULANDAY

World champ boxer Nesthy Petecio looks forward to the lifting of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Baguio to be able to return to normal training rudely interrupte­d by the pandemic.

Though restrictio­ns would still be in place if ECQ is downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ) in the City of Pines, Petecio said it would be a step forward towards her return to normal training in chase of her Olympic dream.

“I want to quickly buckle down to work once the GCQ starts to be in effect. I need to get my condition back for the Olympics, where my sights are still on lock,” said the 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, who fell short in the quarterfin­als of the Asia and Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualificat­ion last March in Jordan.

The 28-year-old boxing star was supposed to get another shot in the Global Boxing Qualifiers this month in Paris, France scrapped along with other Olympic qualifiers and the supposed 2020 Summer Games proper due to the pandemic.

She said punching a ticket to the world’s biggest sports spectacle could only be close to reality when she gets down to work starting with a personal training under the possible GCQ period in Baguio.

“Save for market days, we’re usually stuck in our boarding house. We’re not allowed to be outside even for a little workout. Hopefully under GCQ, I can go back to my personal and normal training to maintain conditioni­ng and punch combinatio­ns,” said Petecio, whose training has been limited to 4-round punch mitts for a month now.

If she could have her way, Petecio would love to take quick trip home in Davao to reunite with her family in the middle of these challengin­g times.

 ??  ?? Nesthy Petecio
Nesthy Petecio

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