Eumir Marcial ends 2024 Paris Olympics campaign: 'Yung pangarap ko, biglang gumuho'
Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial, who won bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ended his 2024 Paris Olympics campaign and his quest for the elusive gold medal.
Marcial lost to Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan via unanimous decision in the 16th round of the men's 80kg division on July 31, Manila time.
The 5'11" Marcial, 28, supposedly had the upper hand in terms of experience compared to his 20-year-old opponent.
But the 6'1" Khabibullaev overpowered Marcial even in defense.
In a post-match interview with One Sports, Marcial acknowledged that Khabibullaev was stronger and better.
"Ganoon talaga, 'di natin nakuha ang panalo," Marcial said, catching his breath and seemingly holding back tears. "Nakakalungkot. 'Yung pangarap ko, biglang gumuho."
Marcial said he doesn't know how to explain how he feels at the moment.
"Lahat ng sakripisyo, paghihirap. Kahit alam kong maraming pagsubok ang dumating, ginawa namin 'yung best," he said.
Marcial said he had his eyes on the gold medal and wanted to bring home the country's second one. (Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history by winning the first-ever gold medal for the Philippines during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.)
"Malusutan ko lang 'tong kalaban kong [Uzbekistan], mas madali sana," he said, shaking his head. "Nanghihingi po ako ng pasensiya sa lahat ng Pilipino na naniwala at sumuporta sa akin. Sana ganoon pa rin ang suporta nila."
Marcial said he sacrificed a lot, including his professional boxing career, for the Olympics, which is considered an amateur competition.
"Siguro may mas magandang plano ang Panginoon para sa akin," he said. "Di ko alam saan ako magsisimula, kung sa professional career ko ba o simulan ko mag-prepare sa [2028] Los Angeles Olympics."
"Sobrang late na po. Ito na sana 'yung best chance ko sanang makuha 'yung gold," he added.
'This is not the end of my journey'
Still, Marcial is grateful for the opportunity to represent the Philippines on the international stage.
In a Facebook post hours after the match, Marcial said his fighting spirit has "never once wavered for the Philippines."
"I’m devastated and at a loss for words. It’s a tough loss, I do not know how to explain this loss to all the Filipinos who believed in me and supported me," he said. "It’s a difficult place to be in, no one really prepares to lose."
He noted that there are no excuses, as the "people know that it has always been my absolute dream to win the gold medal at the Olympics not just for myself, for my family, but most especially, for the Philippines."
Marcial said he trained every day "with the mindset of winning the gold," putting in the hard work and sacrificing so much for this dream.
He also bared that he sustained an injury two weeks leading up to his match, which prevented him to move and do his "usual training." According to him, it affected his mental strength and overall performance.
"But no regrets still," he said. " I may not understand it now but I need to trust that it was God’s protection to keep me safe from any further potential injury."
"This is not the end of my journey," he concluded.
Marcial's original weight class in Tokyo was 75 kg, but had to move to 80 kg for Paris. It was his second straight appearance in the Olympics.
There are still four Filipino boxers vying for an Olympic medal: Aira Villegas (women's 50 kg), Nesthy Petecio (57 kg), Hergie Bacyadan (women's 75 kg), and Carlo Paalam (men's 57 kg).
The 2024 Paris Olympics started on July 26 and will run until Aug. 11. If you want to witness our local athletes as they strive for the gold, you can watch the games through Cignal TV. The platforms include Cignal TV’s free-to-air and pay-per-view television, while digital broadcasts can be watched on OneSports, One News, and News5.
A dedicated website for the event has also been launched. Click this link to see the complete schedule.