Eumir Marcial has no regrets and offered no excuses after absorbing a heartbreaking defeat to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the round-of-16 of the men’s 80-kilogram division that ultimately ended his run in the 2024 Paris Olympics on early Wednesday, July 31.

The 28-year-old boxer admitted going through physical and medical setbacks in the build-up to his second straight Olympic stint, but said he is not making excuses for the defeat, even though it completely crushed his dream of matching his bronze medal finish in Tokyo three years ago.

“I’m devastated and at a loss for words. It’s a tough loss, I do not know how to explain this loss to all the Filipinos …” Marcial said in an emotional social media post just hours after the bout.

“It’s a difficult place to be in, no one really prepares to lose. But like I said [there are] no excuses. People know that it has always been my absolute dream to win the gold medal at the Olympics, not just for myself, for my family, but most especially, for the Philippines.”

Marcial shared he took a lot of sacrifices to reach the Paris Games, including putting his professional career on hold just to continue seeing action in the Summer Games.

Marcial last saw action on the professional scene in March, when he dominated Thoedsak Sinam of Thailand, before focusing solely on his Olympic preparations.

Moving forward, though, Marcial vowed to treat the loss as fuel in representing the flag.

“But no regrets still. I know God has a bigger purpose for this loss. I may not understand it now, but I need to trust that it was God’s protection to keep me safe from any further potential injury,” Marcial added. (GMA Integrated News)