By Abby Toralba
EUMIR Marcial will use his silver medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games as a motivation for next year’s Paris Olympic Games.
“God willing (for the Olympic gold). Pagsisikapan ko na makuha iyong gold,” said Marcial, who also bagged a bronze medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Marcial, 27, returned to the country last Sunday along with the other members of the Philippine delegation, two days after he lost by unanimous decision to Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke of China in their clash for the men’s 80kg gold.
Marcial punched an Olympic ticket for reaching the final round.
Marcial, in a press conference featuring the country’s Asian Games medalists last Sunday at the Milky Way Cafe in Makati, said he will keep on grinding ahead of the Olympics.
“Gagawin ko iyong best ko. Mag-e-ensayo ako ng husto. Paghahandaan ko itong darating na Olympics. Kung ano iyong mga kulang sa akin, dapat naming pag-aralan pa. Dami kong nagawang mistakes noong laban ko sa finals kaya pagbalik ko sa US, magpe-prepare ako sa next professional fight ko para dalhin sa Olympics,” he said.
The Zamboanga native boxer said he will use his silver medal finish as his motivation for his training for the Paris Games.
“Iyon naman talaga iyon (reason) kung bakit ako lumaban ulit sa amateur kasi gusto ko makuha iyong gold sa Olympics. Ang daming nagsabi na dapat ako iyong nanalo, dinaya ako, so gagamitin ko iyon na motivation, lalo ko pang pagsisikapan sa training,” Marcial said.
“Sa akin, tanggap ko kung ano iyong naging desisyon ng mga judges, nirerespeto ko, kaya kung ano man iyong naging resulta ng laban, respect na lang iyong desisyon,” he added.
Marcial is expected to leave for the United States shortly for his recovery and is expected to see action in two professional bouts.
