By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China – Just how motivated is Eumir Marcial for this year’s 19th edition of the Asian Games?
Very determined. Dead serious.
In fact, the Tokyo Games bronze medal winner is not just taking it as a mere event, knowing pretty well the impact and importance of his every win to his flourishing career.
Never mind about sacrifices and the missed opportunity of fighting for the fourth time as a pro in the US – all he wanted really is to qualify for the Paris Games where he has an unfinished business.
“Itong Asian Games kasi, Olympic qualifying din kasi namin ito e, ngayon hindi ko iniisip na Asian Games ito, ang iniisip ko, Olympic qualifying ito,” said Marcial, who likewise settled for a bronze in the Palembang SEA Games in 2018
Action in boxing competition starts Sunday with Team PH hoping to deliver once again just like the old, happy times.
“Kailangan talaga namin na umabot ng final para ma-qualify sa Paris Olympics, so ang goal ko talaga rito is hindi lang manalo ng medal, kundi ma-qualify sa Olympics. Kasi ang target talaga namin na makuha iyong gold sa Olympics,” added Marcial.
For sure, it’s going be difficult since he will be fighting in a heavier division.
He won a bronze medal in Tokyo Games while fighting in the middleweight, but for this year’s edition, he will be moving up to light heavyweight.
So far, he thinks he’s doing good in practice although he did a lot of adjustments.
“Medyo nanibago lang sa weight class. Pero sa tulong ng coaches, sa training camp namin, pamilyar ko na yung weight division ko,” said Marcial.
“Yung nilagay nila, 71 kilos and 80 kilos. So nasa 75 ako. Kung bababa ako ng 71, sobrang liit na baka hindi ko na alam paano magiging performance ko. Kaya ako umakyat ng light heavy. Hopefully sa tulong ni God, makuha natin ang gold,” he said with a smile.
