Marcial supports Obiena after Paris letdown

Eumir Marcial, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics in boxing, offered words of encouragement to fellow Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena after both experienced disappointing exits at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.

Marcial and Obiena were among the Philippines' top medal hopes but fell short of their goals; Marcial lost his opening bout against Uzbekistan's Turabek Khabibullaev, while Obiena narrowly missed a medal in the men's pole vault final.

Both athletes faced physical challenges leading up to the Games, with Marcial suffering a rib injury that affected his training and Obiena dealing with an injury two weeks before the Olympics.

In a Facebook post, Marcial expressed empathy for Obiena, acknowledging uncontrollable factors impacting their performances and emphasizing their shared determination to compete despite obstacles.

Marcial reflected on the pain of not meeting expectations but remained optimistic about future success for both himself and Obiena, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.