JAKARTA Asian Games pencak silat bronze medalist Cherry May Regalado has come a long way from winning beauty pageants and ruling the 2018 Asian Games Invitational Tournament in Indonesia before the Asiad.
But there’s one achievement she’s still aching to accomplish: Win a Southeast Asian Games gold.
She admitted shedding tears in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games when she placed fourth and failed to win a medal.
“Hindi po ako nag-give up at sinabi ko po sa sarili ko na patutunayan ko sa kanila na nagkamali sila ng judging,” she said.
The 24-year-old Nutrition Course graduate at the Aklan State University in Banga, Aklan was one of the favorites to win a gold in the Kuala Lumpur games, and deep in her heart she believed that her performance was worthy of a medal.
Regalado, who tried out athletics and volleyball before finally deciding to train in martial arts before to college, turned her 2017 frustration into a bronze in the 18th Asian Games.
“Alam ko po na marami pang pagkakataon na ibibigay sakin. Tiwala lang po sa sarili,” said Regalado.
She gets another chance to prove her worth in coming biennial meet the Philippines is hosting on Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
“We are almost in the finishing touches of our routines. Maintaining the endurance, stability and proving the speed and power,” said the pretty, former beauty pageant winner, who is probably facing the biggest challenge of her life.
“In my case, I’m also dealing with a knee injury. This is the greatest challenge that I have to face every day. How I’m gonna perform and improve myself without making my injury worse. But I just tell myself not to lose hope and never ever give up, a few more steps and I will take the gold medal as my comeback statement,’” she said, adding her fiercest rivals in the games will come from Indonesia and Singapore.
