SEA Games champion Melcah Caballero nagretiro sa national rowing team

HINDI na madepensahan ni Rower Melcah Caballero ang kanyang dalawang gold medals sa 31st Southeast Asian Games sa Hanoi sa susunod na taon, nang magdesisyon ito na magretiro sa national team.

Babalik ang 25-anyos Caballero, sa kanyang career sa Philippine Navy kung saan siya ay may ranggong seaman second class.

Caballero ay nagwagi ng gold medal sa women’s lightweight single sculls at double sculls kasama si Joanie Delgaco sa 30th SEA Games sa Subic noong 2019.

“Every stroke opened different chapters of my life to which I can say that I have now reached the shore,” Nakasulat sa resignation letter ni Caballero naka addressed sa Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) president Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.

“Just like the old saying goes, ‘every beginning has its end.’ I have finally reached the end of the tunnel and would like to pursue the other story of my career,” Dagdag pa nya.
Inamin ni Caballero na ang pagbaba sa sports sa kasagsagan ng kanyang athletic career ang pinakamahirap na desisyon na kanyang ginawa.

“I concluded that now is the right time for me to focus on my naval career advancement and to take the chance to apply as a military officer,” Paliwanag nya.

“By this, I would like to inform you [Gregorio] of my intention to retire as an athlete of the Philippine Rowing Association effective December 1, 2021.”

Sinabi ng PRA na tinanggap nila ang retirement ni Caballero” with a heavy heart” na ang rower ay pinapaboran na maulit ang maging champion sa Hanoi SEA Games sa Mayo 2022, at maging contender sa Asian Games sa Hangzhou, China sa September 2022.