NESTHY Petecio and Aira Villegas, who delivered the country’s two other medals in the Paris Olympics, will be the recipient of a special recognition at the 2024 San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night on Jan. 27.
The two fearless lady boxers will be recognized with the President’s Award by the country’s oldest media organization during its traditional awards presentation at the grand ballroom of the Manila Hotel.
Petecio and Villegas won a pair of bronze medals in Paris, adding to the two glittering gold medals gymnast Carlos Yulo won as the Philippines secured its best showing ever in a century of participation in the quadrennial Games.
Yulo will be feted with the highest honor as the 2024 Athlete of the Year during the proceedings co-presented by ArenaPlus, Cignal, and MediaQuest.
Petecio emerged with a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg division, while Villegas secured the same medal in the 50 kg class.
“They may have missed the biggest prize in the 2024 Olympics, but deserve high accolades with their bright moments in the Paris Games, providing an extra push in the glorious Philippine performance – a great highlight in the country’s centennial year of participation in the Summer Games,” said PSA President Nelson Beltran.
For Petecio, 32, the bronze was her second Olympic medal, adding to the silver that she bagged in the 2021 edition of the Games in Tokyo. In doing so, she became the first Filipino boxer to clinch back-to-back podium finishes in the quadrennial meet.
For Villegas, 29, it was a proud moment in her Olympic debut as an underdog out of the compact five-man Philippine boxing team that competed.
Several other awards will be handed out on the special night made possible by major sponsors Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, PLDT/Smart, Senator Bong Go, and Januarius Holdings and backed by the PBA, 1-Pacman Party List, AcroCity, PVL, Akari, and Rain or Shine.
The honor roll includes the Executive of the Year, Major Awardees in other sports, Mr. Basketball both in the professional and amateur ranks, Ms. Volleyball, and the regular Tony Siddayao Awards for athletes aged 17 years and under.
Special recognition will also be given to Philippine Olympians and Paralympians, while another iconic Filipino athlete will be enshrined in the PSA Hall of Fame.
