By Nick Giongco
Filipino middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial got rid of pesky Indian rival Ashish Kumar on Wednesday to book a finals stint in the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Amman, Jordan.
Philippines’ Eumir Felix Marcial (red) books a finals ticket to the Asia-Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament and faces Abilkhan Amankkul of Kazakhstan. Marcial became the third Filipino to secure a Tokyo Olympic berth. (MB File Photo)
Marcial, 24, already assured of a berth in the Tokyo Olympics, won 4-1, and will meet Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan in the finals in a battle of world championships silver medalists.
The tournament top seed, Marcial was the 2019 worlds silver medalist in Ekatenriburg, Russia, while Amankul, 22, got his during the 2017 edition in Hamburg, Germany.
Two other Filipinos—men’s flyweight Carlo Paalam and women’s fly Irish Magno—losers in the quarterfinals could still make the Olympic grade if they win in their respective boxoffs.
Four others were denied of outright slots after not getting past either the eliminations and the quarterfinals.
The foursome of feather Ian Clark Bautista, welter James Palicte, women’s feather top seed Nesthy Petecio and lightweight Riza Pasuit, will try to secure slots for the final time when Paris stages the World Qualifying in May.
If Paalam and Magno lose the boxoffs, they are also going to be Paris-bound.
Source: Manila Bulletin
Xtra Sports ph 