As much as she wanted to bag the gold, Nesthy Petecio relishes her Olympic silver medal while still keeping an eye on her main goal. 

Petecio, who became the first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal, says she plans to keep on pushing just like weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz. 

Diaz captured the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal in the the Tokyo Games. But before that, the pride of  Zamboanga City also settled for a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

“Tuloy pa rin ho,” said Petecio. “Kagaya ni champ Hidy, nag-silver siya sa Rio and nag-gold siya dito at 30 (years old), kaya tuloy ang laban.”

(I’ll just keep on going. Like champ Hidy, she won a silver in Rio, and now she won a gold at 30 years old, so the fight continues.)

Petecio yielded to Japan’s Sena Irie via unanimous decision in the women’s featherweight final on Tuesday, August 3, at the Kokujikan Arena. 

The Davao del Sur native put up a strong stance as she tried to match Irie punch-for-punch, but the Japanese was the quicker fighter, escaping with the win in the division that was added to the Olympic program for the first time.

Petecio’s silver was also the first for Philippine boxing in the Olympics since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco clinched the same medal color at the Atlanta 1996 edition.

Diaz and Petecio helped prop up the Philippines’ biggest Olympic medal haul yet as boxers Eumir Marcial (middleweight) and Carlo Paalam (flyweight) also secured at least a bronze.

“This means a lot to me,” said Petecio. “I dedicate this fight to my country, my family, and my best friend, who died last February.”

“But most especially, I dedicate this silver medal to my coach, Coach Boy (Nolito Velasco) for his tireless effort to bring me to where I am now,” she said.

Petecio said she’ll keep her focus as she targets a return Olympic stint in Paris 2024. 

“Kinulang po tayo pero ginawa ko yung best sa taas ng ring…. Chasing the gold pa rin po tayo. Hindi pa tapos po. May Paris pa po,” said Petecio.

(We fell short but I did by best in the ring… I’m still chasing the gold. It’s not over. There’s still Paris.) – Rappler.com