Tabuk City, Kalinga – After snagging the gold medal in the recently-concluded 2022 Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament, Hergie Bacyadan who traces her roots to Taloctoc, Tanudan is now preparing for the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which is scheduled to be hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam from May 12 to 23, 2022.
Bacyadan dominated Tran Thi Oanh Nhi, 5-0, under the women’s middleweight category in the said event held on April 09 at Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort Hotel, Phuket, Thailand. As a result, she received a medal and $2,000.
Road to international boxing
In an interview, the 27-year-old boxer shared her journey toward international boxing that ‘is never easy.’ She narrated that she started her career in sports at the age of 19. She was first discovered as a wushu athlete at one of the gyms in Kalinga Province and later shifted to boxing in 2019.
With her multiple fights with Philippine Sports Commission (PCS) and the national team, she was not able to finish her degree in Criminology.
The COVID-19 pandemic, she relayed, prepared her mentally and emotionally. The situation, to her, served as an opportunity to compose herself and reflect on what she really wanted to pursue in life.
“When I learned about the upcoming fight in Thailand, I worked out and trained religiously to maintain my goal weight, endurance, and strength. I studied how my possible opponent fight and how am I to counter it,” stated Bacyadan.
Inspired by God, family, friends, and her girlfriend, she carries a hopeful heart during her fight but did not drop her guard down. She made sure she had enough training and preparation for the international event.
Upon winning, she felt overwhelmed, that the Lord has been with her and that everything that is happening is in accordance with His plans.
Bacyadan extended gratitude to those who supported and helped her on her journey.
“First, I’d like to thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity after all my shameful acts in the past. I am undeserving and yet God has opened a lot of opportunities and I can’t wait for His other plans to unfold, eventually. Second, I’d like also to thank my girlfriend for introducing God to me, if not because of her, I wouldn’t be able to know and appreciate how God has been and always been good to me. Lastly, I want to thank my family. During the hardest time in my life, they were there and supported me all throughout my battle. I was empty and a complete mess, my family kept their faith in me & stood by my side,” she expressed.
Bacyadan encouraged the youth who wish to follow her track not to give up in times of uncertainties.
“My athlete journey was never easy. I have experienced a lot of challenges that are beyond your imagination. No matter how much life punches you, just continue fighting and never be afraid to get knocked down,” she said.
After winning the international gold medal, she is now in training, with her eyes set on bringing home the SEA gold medal.
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