PH pugs pressured to deliver in Asian Games

Eumir Felix Marcial (right) of the Philippines fights against Pathomsak Kuttiya (left) of Thailand during the finals of the middleweight event boxing competition of the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last year. Marcial is tipped to lead the national boxing team to the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in August. AFP QUEST FOR GOLD IS ON

It’s going to be a battle for redemption for powerhouse Philippine boxing team when it competes in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta this August.

Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (Abap) executive director Ed Picson admitted that they are pressured to deliver following a dismal performance in the previous Asian Games edition in Incheon.

Boxing has been the perennial goldmine of Filipinos in the Asian Games.

Since being included in the official calendar in the 1954 meet in Manila, Filipino boxers cornered a total of 15 gold, nine silver and 29 bronze medals to emerge as the fourth winningest country next to South Korea, Thailand and Kazakhstan.

Their highest moment came in the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994 when three Filipino boxers in Mansueto Velasco, Elias Recaido and Reynaldo Galido delivered the only three gold medals that the entire Philippine delegation brought home.

Velasco went on to see action in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, where he emerged with the highest achievement – a silver medal – before weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz matched it in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

But in the previous Asian Games in Incheon, Filipino boxers went home without a gold.

A Mongolian fighter overpowered Charly Suarez in the gold-medal match of the men’s lightweight event while Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga, Mario Fernandez and Wilfredo Lopez settled for the bronze medal in their respective categories.

Picson said this is the perfect time for them to deliver.

“We certainly would like it to be,” said Picson, adding that they are ready to manage the pressure to squeeze their finest performance.

“There’s always pressure in boxing. That’s part of the territory. We just need to manage it and do the best we can.”

Picson, also the communication director of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), said they are parading a delegation that is capable of punching the gold.

Two time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Felix Eumir Marcial will be at the helm of their campaign in the men’s side while AIBA World Boxing Championship silver medalist Nesthy Petecio will be back to redeem herself after an early exit in the women’s division of the Incheon Asian Games.

Rising star Carlo Paalam and Rogen Ladon will also see action to help the Philippines claim its first boxing gold medal since Rey Saludar captured the men’s flyweight title in the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010.

Of course, James Palicte and two-time SEA Games gold medalist Mario Fernandez were also enlisted for the national squad.

Filipino-British John Marvin, who won the gold medal in the SEA Games in an impressive fashion, could have been a perfect addition, but the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee scrapped his weight division – light heavyweight.

Picson said with the all-out support from the MVP Sports Foundation, Philippine Sports Commission and POC, they were able to send their boxers to training camps in Guangzhou, Thailand and England. They also had successful tournaments in India, Poland, Kazakhstan and Russia, where they won three gold medals courtesy of Petecio, Marcial and Paalam.

Next week, the boxers are going to fly to Thailand and Indonesia for a couple of tournaments as part of their buildup for Asia’s biggest athletic conclave.

“I think all of the boxers that we will be sending to the Asian Games have very good chances,” said Picson, noting that POC and ABAP chief Ricky Vargas is behind them every step of the way.

“Although the draw is also a major factor, we will go there prepared and ready to win.”

Also campaigning in the Asian Games are Ramel Macado Jr., Ian Clark Bautista, Sugar Ray Ocana, Joel Bacho, Josie Gabuco, Aira Villegas and Suarez, the two-time SEA Games gold medalist who is one of the 13 athletes sent to the Olympics in 2016.