MANILA – Irish Magno could not have been the first Ilongga boxer to qualify to the Olympics have she not listened to the people close to her to keep from trading jabs inside the ring.
The Janiuay, Iloilo-native admitted that she have several times considered retirement, but recalled her decision following her peers’ advice.
“Kon kis-a gapanundum man ako nga mag untat boxing kay kapoy man lawas ko, pero maano ako? Mang garab palay sa Janiuay?” Magno said in an interview with Iloilo’s Sports LANG.
“Gapa salamat guid ko sa mga tawo nga naga motivate kanakon nga kaya ko guid,” she added. “I am always grateful because, without them, I did not reach my dreams.”
Magno is among the four Filipino athletes who were qualified for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The other players are fellow boxer Eumir Marcial, world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Magno was able to punch her ticket to the Tokyo Olympics despite losing gold at a box-off match in Amman, Jordan.
“Janiuaynons are known to be brave people and that is my battlecry heading into the Olympics,” she said. “Also, I drew inspiration from the Ilonggos, Filipino and my family.”
“Now that I am qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, I can promise na I will give my very best, ibibigay ko talaga ang lahat para sa bayan,” she added./PN
