It appears Eumir Marcial’s dream of winning an Olympic gold medal will be put on hold.
An Olympic gold medal remains elusive for Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial.
And after his early exit in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Marcial’s amateur boxing career is in limbo.
But the Filipino pugilist is not completely shutting the door on his ultimate dream.
“I am not closing my doors in wanting to achieve my ultimate dream, which is to win an Olympic gold medal,” he said in an Instagram post on Wednesday, August 21.
A bronze medalist in Tokyo 2020, Marcial headed to Paris with immense hopes he would finally claim the gold.
But after three rounds of boxing against 20-year-old Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan, all his efforts in the lead up to the quadrennial showpiece went down the drain.
He apologized for falling short right in his first bout.
“Unang-una, no excuses no. Ganun talaga. Naging mahirap and hindi natin nakuha yung panalo dahil siya yung better today,” he said.
“Nakakalungkot, kumbaga yung pangarap ko biglang gumuho,” Marcial added. "Hindi ko po alam, ito na po sana yung best chance ko na makuha yung gold."
[RELATED STORY: Eumir Marcial left vulnerable after shock Olympic exit: 'Yung pangarap ko biglang gumuho’]
What’s certain right now, though, is Marcial will shift his focus on a promising professional career.
The Zamboanga City-born boxer currently holds an impressive 5-0 win-loss record, including the sensational KO win over Thoedak Sinam in what served as his Paris sendoff last March.
[ALSO READ: Uppercut got him the KO, but Eumir Marcial insists jabs are crucial as he shifts focus to Paris 2024]
In the same post, Marcial hinted at a possible ring return in December later this year.
“But I think I’m making the right decision to pour my focus into my professional career, and in continuing to bring honor to our country. I guess I’ll see you guys back in the ring in December,” he said.