VILLARITO

VIENTIANE, Laos — Southeast Asian Games javelin throw champion Rosie Villarito hopes to qualify for the London Olympics in 2012 by wearing the boxing gloves that have been gathering dust back home.

“Kung di ko rin naman kayang mag-qualify sa athletics, baka sakali sa boxing, puwede,” said the 30-year-old former national boxer from the Guimaras island.

Villarito said she has been approached by her former coach Roel Velasco if she would like to try out again for the national team.

“Sabi ko, bakit hindi,” said Villarito who won her first gold medal Sunday.

Villarito started out in athletics in 1997 before trying her hand in boxing at the turn of the century.

She became one of the country’s first women boxers and won a bronze medal in the first Asian women’s championships in Bangkok in 2001.

When Villarito joined the army, she decided to return to athletics.

“Bored ako noon kasi di pa naman gaano kasikat women’s boxing noon,” she recalled.

Villarito first tried out heptathlon before concentrating on javelin throw.

She won silver medals in the 2005 and 2007 edition of the Games.

Villarito is not the typical thrower. She has remained slim and does not wish to bulk up.

“Di naman kailangan ng malaki ka para mag-excel dito,” she said.

To keep herself in shape, she cross trains with members of the boxing team.

At 63 kilograms, Villarito said she won’t have a hard time shedding to make the 60 kilogram limit.

Villarito said she’s being eyed to replace Mitchell Martinez who is mulling retirement.

This does not mean, however, that she’s giving up athletics.

“Puwede naman akong mag-double event,” she said.