At just 16 years old—and a first-timer at that—Syesha Lexa Casel has already proven she’s a force to be reckoned with in the exciting sport of kickboxing.

Syesha has not only represented the Summer Capital in Batang Pinoy 2024, but also walked away with a gold medal—an achievement made even more meaningful by the sacrifices she made to get there.

She started training in 2023, but her interest in kickboxing began much earlier in Grade 6, where she watched her older brother compete in a kickboxing match and instantly found herself drawn to the sport.

The teenager thought it looked cool and interesting—and what started as simple admiration eventually turned into a commitment to the sport.

For Syesha, competing in Batang Pinoy 2024 and winning gold on her debut was something fulfilling and unforgettable even as she admitted that preparing for the competition wasn’t easy.

She trained every day, including school days, balancing her studies in the morning and training in the evening. While weekends mean rest for others, it means extra hours in the gym to train for her.

As a dedicated student-athlete, time management is a challenge she’s learned to face head-on as she admits it’s hard, but she does her best to balance both worlds.

During the competition, Syesha said she felt an overwhelming sense of pride and knew how tough the selection process was, so being chosen as one of Baguio City’s representatives was already an achievement in itself.

To make things even better, she brought home the gold which she believes is a victory that is a testament that every training, every sacrifice and every challenge she faced had all been worth it.

Behind that success was a support system she deeply values and she credits her coaches and teammates for pushing her limits and motivating her as an athlete.

She also expressed heartfelt thanks to her family and sponsors, especially to her Tita Jamie, whose financial support made it possible for her to compete.

To young athletes, Syesha’s message is simple: keep pushing. “Everyone starts as a beginner,” Syesha said as she believes that as long as you have passion and stay consistent, improvement will follow.

When asked what drives her to keep training, Syesha simply said, “myself” as she admitted the need to prove something, which is why she stays motivated by her personal goals and dreams, knowing that every match, win or lose, brings her closer to where she wants to be.

So even after Batang Pinoy 2024, she’s not letting up and is already back to training, preparing for upcoming tryouts and future competitions.

For her, Batang Pinoy 2024 marks the beginning of something bigger—and she’s just getting started.-Heidi V. Alonzo/Baguio PIO intern/gabykeith