Eumir Marcial advances to 19th Asiad finals, secures spot in Paris Olympics

Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial is guaranteed not just a spot in the 19th Asian Games finals, but also in the Paris Olympics 2024. 

Marcial achieved the win after knocking out Syria’s Ahmad Ghousoon during the second round of the men's 80kg semi-finals on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at the HZ Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China. 

Marcial ended the fight at the 1:49 mark with a check hook move. He is set to compete against China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan vying for the country’s first gold medal in Asian Games boxing after over a decade drought.

The win also clinched his ticket to compete in the Paris Olympics 2024. 

“This has been my ultimate dream coming to the Asian Games and I couldn’t be more honored and thankful to represent our country yet again at the Olympics,” he wrote in his Facebook post. “I dedicate this win to every single Filipino who believed and supported me.” 

This marks his major win after clinching the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. He is the fourth Pinoy athlete who qualified for the Paris Olympics, joining pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.