Marcial's feat inspires Asian qualifier-bound pugs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine men’s boxing team hopes to draw inspiration from Eumir Marcial’s record win in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships last week as it competes in the Asian Boxing Championships slated Aug. 5-13 in Incheon, South Korea.

Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar banners the six-man squad that includes former Asian gold medal winner Joan Tipon, Charlie Suarez, Wilfredo Lopez, Orlando Tacuyan and either Victorio Saludar or Mark Anthony Barriga.

Coach Ronald Chavez said Marcial’s victory serves the team in good stead, although he stressed competition in the Asian tilt is expected to be very tough.

“We expect a tough challenge from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China and Korea and Thailand, if ever AIBA will allow it to compete,” said Chavez.

The six Filipino pugs’ performance will also be used as gauge for their possible inclusion in the World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan this September.

The meet serves as one of two qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics.     

“If they perform well in the Asian Boxing Championships, there is a big chance for them to see action in the world championship,” Chavez said.

The group also said the 15-year-old Marcial is a big inspiration to them to do better in the meet.

“That’s also our goal – to win the gold since Marcial’s victory serves as an inspiration to our boxers,” men’s head coach Pat Gaspi in the PSA Forum session yesterday at Shakey’s UN Ave. where Marcial joined the boxing delegation.

Marcial, a native of Zamboanga, made history by becoming the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the world junior championship in Astana, Kazakhstan, highlighting his exploit with a 9-7 victory over Onat Cengiz of Turkey in the 52 kg. Final last Saturday.

A third-year high school student in Baguio, the soft-spoken teener, coached and trained by three-time Olympian Romeo Brin, said his triumph hopefully, will translate into more golds in the future, specifically in the Olympics.