BY NICK GIONGCO
Tokyo Olympic qualifier Eumir Marcial admits the coronavirus pandemic has reached a terrifying level that it could end up derailing his dreams and fellow athletes who share the same vision.
“Bata pa lang ako ito na ang pangarap ko,” said Marcial, who is undergoing self-imposed quarantine at his home in Imus, Cavite.
Marcial earned a ticket to Tokyo after ruling the middleweight class in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament held early this month in Amman, Jordan.
The outbreak has wrought so much havoc that talks of the July 24-Aug. 9 Games being postponed or cancelled altogether remains a hot topic.
And the prospects of Tokyo totally being unable to stage the Olympics has caused Marcial sleepless nights.
“Sa akin naman naniniwala ako na matutuloy pa rin. Kahit i-postpone nila para lalo na na ring makapaghanda ang lahat,” said the 24-year-old Zamboanga native.
But what if the Tokyo Olympics wounds up being scrapped?
“Huwag naman sana cancelled dahil magiging masakit sa kagaya ko na naghirap at nagsakripisyo,” he said.
Marcial arrived in Manila from Jordan on March 13 and he immediately headed to Cavite to observe quarantine.
Ed Picson, secretary-general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, has advised Marcial and another Tokyo qualifier, female fly Irish Magno, and the rest of the national team to be on ‘active rest’ mode as everyone keenly await the fate of Tokyo.
Marcial is following orders to the letter.
“Nagsha-shadow box ako sa umaga at gumagamit ng (punch) mitts at sa hapon naman at ‘partner play’,” Marcial said.
‘Partner play is a mock sparring session in boxing lingo, wherein only one of the two sparmates are throwing punches in the air.
Despite the odds of Tokyo not pushing through, Marcial remains hopeful that the tide will turn.
“Gusto ko kasi iregalo sa Tatay ko ang Olympic gold habang narito pa sya,” said Marcial.