First came the devastating right. Then came the tears.
Eumir Marcial of the Philippines knocked out Syria’s Ahmad Ghousoon in the second round of the men’s 80kg semi-finals at the the Asian Games 2023 to secure a a Paris 2024 boxing quota on Wednesday (4 October).
The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist ended the fight with 1:49 left in the second round with a pulverizing right hook to Ghousoon, who could bear no more.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Marcial – who openly wept in joy after the match – had Ghousoon on his knees with a body blow earlier in the round before hurling the winning shot that put a period in the contest.
