Pregnancy derails Aparri’s SEAG bid

MANILA, Philippines - Boxer Alice Kate Appari, the reigning SEA Games champion, will not be able to defend her title in Myanmar in December.

The 29-year-old Appari, also the SEA Games gold medalist in 2005 and 2009, has been dropped from the list of candidates to the Myanmar SEA Games due to pregnancy.

She is also a two-time bronze medalist in the Women’s World Boxing Championship, first in 2006 in Goa, India and in 2010 in Barbados.

Aparri, who competes in the flyweight class, almost made it to the 2012 London Olympics but lost to Nesty Petecio in a box-off.

Philippine Sports Commission executive director Guillermo Iroy said the agency has already been informed of Appari’s condition.

Appari, a priority athlete, stands to lose her monthly allowance from the PSC until perhaps she gives birth and rejoins the national team.

The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines already has a list of boxers being considered for the Myanmar SEA Games in December.

And Aparri’s name is there as a shoo-in for the women’s 51 kg class.

Maricris Igam will compete in the 46 kg class, Petecio in the 54 kg class and Margie Wage in the 57 kg division. The slot in the 48 kg division remains a tossup between world champion Josie Gabuco and Irish Magno.

A member of the ABAP coaching confirmed Appari’s pregnancy and that she may also be suffering from a frail heart condition.

Appari is not the first member of the national pool to get pregnant this year after long-jumper Marestella Torres.

A veteran of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Torres has been temporarily dropped from the national pool.