Albania learns lesson the hard way

Annie Albania said that her stint in last month’s 2010 International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Women’s Boxing Championship in Bridgetown, Barbados has been a humbling experience. Albania, who won the silver in the flyweight division two years ago in China, suffered a first round exit in the two-week long biennial meet, losing in points to Turkey’s Sumeyra Yazici, 4-7. “Masyado akong naging kumpiyansa at nag-relax knowing I was leading after two rounds," said Albania, who is now in the final stages of training together with the Philippine national boxing team in time for the 16th Asian Games in China. “Hindi ko naman ugali mag relax sa laban, kung bakit naman naisipan kong gawin yun noon. Pero lesson yun para sa akin," added the University of the East alumna. Albania was holding on to a two-point lead against Yazici in the first round but decided to slow down in the succeeding frames. She failed to score a point in the final round, and it cost her the match and the chance to stay in medal contention. To make up for her poor performance in Barbados, Albania, who bagged consecutive gold medals in the same weight class in two international tournaments last year, vowed to bounce back in the Guangzhou Asiad, which opens on November 12. “Babawi ako sa Asian Games at pilitin ko na manalo ng gold," said Albania, who won the gold in the 2nd Asian Indoor Games in Hanoi, Vietnam and the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos in 2009. Albania even sparred with male members of the Asian Games-bound boxing team in order for her to achieve her goal of winning an Asian Games gold medal. “Grabe ang ensayo ko ngayon. Araw-araw kalaban ko mga lalaki, kaya sana magbunga ang lahat ng hirap namin sa ensayo para sa China," said Albania, who is being trained by 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games gold medalist Elias Recaido. “Si coach Elias ang na-assign sa akin na mag train at marami akong natutunan sa kaniya. Lalo na sa style ng opensa. Kaya slowly I’m regaining my confidence. Lalaban tayo ng patayan makuha lang ang minimithi natin na gold para sa bansa," the 28-year-old Albania said. This early Albania said China’s Cancan Ren, who recently defended her flyweight world title in Barbados, is one of the favorites for the gold medal. Ren defeated Albania in the 2008 edition of the women’s championship. “Pero kabisado ko na ang style at galaw niya. Isa siya sa mga tinalo ko nang manalo ako ng gold medal sa Vietnam Indoor Games, kaya tingin ko patas lang ang laban," said Albania, who also picked the boxers from Thailand and Indonesia as dangerous opponents. – KY, Jon Perez, GMANews.TV