Two-time Olympic gold medalist Nesthy Petecio takes a break for a month after undergoing eye surgery. 

Petecio, a two-time Olympic medalist, told DAILY TRIBUNE that she has to avoid traveling while resting for at least a month to fast-track her recovery and regain her fighting form.

The 33-year-old Petecio is coming off a forgettable campaign in the Southeast Asian Games after losing to Hasanah Huswatun of Indonesia in the semifinals of the women’s 63-kilogram division of the women’s boxing competition two weeks ago.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as she was able to go home early and have her eye treated last 19 December.

 “I had my eye surgery on 19 December at the American Eye Center in Ortigas. It was three days. It was hard for me to open my eyes,” Petecio said.

“After I lost the match , I really talked to our secretary general and to my coaches, if I could push through with the surgery.”

She added that she is glad that the surgery is already done and she can now focus on bigger tasks ahead after spending the holidays with her family.

“I have been waiting to undergo eye surgery for so many years. This time, it finally happened and it was a blessing for me to not advance to the finals,” Petecio said.

“For now, I am focused on my family first and enjoying the holidays with them.”

A month away from boxing could be what Petecio needs to get back to top form. After all, she has a busy year ahead as she aims to make her third trip to the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

The Davao del Sur native will compete in the 20th Asian Games in Japan from 19 September to 3 October. 

Petecio hopes to land a podium finish in the Asian Games after losing to Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei in the Round of 16 of the women’s 57-kilogram division in the previous edition in Hangzhou in 2023.