Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial felt dissappointed for not getting the boxing gold in the Tokyo Olympics, but is nevertheless taking the bronze as a huge blessing.
“Kaunting kaunti na lang sana at abot kamay ko na ‘yung pinapangarap ko at ng papa ko simula pagkabata. Ang daming pagsubok para makarating dito sa Olympics. Masakit sa akin dahil hindi ko nakuha ang ginto,” said Marcial in a long post in his social media account.
Tipped to be one of the favorites to win the gold in the men’s boxing middleweight division, Marcial settled for the bronze following a split decision loss to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the semifinal round.
Marcial made it to the semifinal with a pair of first-round stoppages, including a knockout over Arman Darchinyan in the quarterfinal that assured him of the bronze.
The loss notwithstanding, Marcial stands to receive a total P2 million cash incentives each from the Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation, and Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation plus P1 million from Cong. Mikee Romero.
Earlier, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the country’s first Olympic gold medal while Marcial’s fellow boxer Nesthy Petecio bagged the silver in the women’s featherweight division.
“Pero taos puso at lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa buong Pilipinas at sa lahat ng Pilipino na sumuporta at pinaramdam sa akin na ako ang panalo para sa kanila. Sa aking buong pamilya at sa aking fiancée,” added Marcial, who is expected to focus on his professional careeer after the Olympics.
“Nag papasalamat ako sa Dios sa biyaya na binigay sa akin.”
Marcial also thanked his sponsors, the ABAP family, the Philipine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.