Actually, my appearance in this year’s SEA Games, I was really thinking of joining here or not. Last October, I thought that I won’t be able to play in the SEA Games again.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of BIEN ZOLETA BIEN and Bambi Zoleta are making a lot of heads turn following their triumphant performance in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
When Bien Zoleta suffered a knee injury three years ago, she thought that she would never get to play soft tennis again.
But perseverance, hard work, determination and a lot of prayers helped her rose from the operating table into the gold medal podium of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
Zoleta said winning two gold medals in the biennial meet is truly special as it came on the heels of a devastating anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Fortunately for her, the long layoff brought by the Covid pandemic helped her redeem herself, enabling her to see action in the SEA Games that was held in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.
"It took me around 28 months to get back in shape. Four months before the SEA Games, I was able to run again," the 34-year-old Bien said.
"Actually, my appearance in this year's SEA Games, I was really thinking of joining here or not. Last October, I thought that I won't be able to play in the SEA Games again."
Turned out that her gamble paid off as Zoleta contributed to the medal haul of Team Philippines after clinching the title in the women's doubles event with Princess Catindig before powering the squad of Catindig, Bambi Zoleta, Fatima Amirul and Vivevernnica Besojano to the gold medal of the women's team category.
Also making a lot of heads turn was her younger sister, Bambi.
Although things didn't go according to plan as she dropped a sorry 3-4 (4-7) loss to Dwi Rahayu Pitri of Indonesia in the gold medal match of the women's singles event, the 31-year-old BS Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate at College of Saint Benilde still made a splash in the biennial meet.
"I'm proud of my team and myself because I still have a medal. I will hold my head high with my silver and gold medals," Bambi, an active campaigner in various tennis age-group tournaments before joining her sister in becoming the faces of Philippine soft tennis.
"Surprisingly, the Filipino community was big in Cambodia. Even if they didn't know who we were, they still showed their support after knowing that there were Filipinos playing."
To Philippine Soft Tennis Association president Bob Moran, both Bien and Bambi have asserted themselves as the gold standard of soft tennis due to their dedication and teamwork.
"They really dedicate themselves to training. They're passionate about their craft and improving their game," Moran said.
"I'm very proud of those sisters."
Now with sporting events going back into full swing, the national soft tennis team is gearing up for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China this September and the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in 2025.
The Zoleta sisters are far from done.
And for as long as there is a challenge, these Glowing Goldies will surely shine.
