By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China – Tokyo Games bronze medalist Eumir Marcial knows the perils of fighting in a heavier weight division for the first time.
That’s why one can’t blame him when he just played hard enough in the men’s 80-kilogram division in the boxing competitions of the 19th Asian Games on Sunday, Sept. 24, here.
“Noong tinamaan ako third, sabi ko sa sarili ko relax lang ako dahil alam kong nakuha ko first two rounds at saka iba ang timbang ko kaya kailangang relax lang,” said Marcial, one of the brightest hopes for a gold medal here.
But his own version of “relax” proved overpowering already as he scored a convincing 5-0 win over Mongolia’s Dalai Ganzorig.
“Mas malalakas pa ang maging kalaban ko sa sunod kaya relax lang,” said the smiling Marcial, who is determined to reach the final to earn another shot at Olympic glory.
Though he still trying to increase his level of confidence, Marcial seems to be peaking at the right time, and well, that’s sounds music to the ears of his fans.
“OK naman ang galaw ko at hangin, di masyadong pagod,” said Marcial confidently.
Marcial’s victory gave PH boxing a 2-2 record for the day after
Irish Magno, also a Tokyo Games veteran, suffered a shock 5-0 defeat to Nigina Uktamova of Uzbekistan in their women’s 54-kg class.
The other first day winner for the boxing was Mark Ashley Fajardo who made a smashing debut with a first round knockout of Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi at the Hangzhou gymnasium here.
