HANGZHOU – A strong start was not enough for Eumir Marcial to land the gold in the 19th Asian Games after losing to Tanglatihan Tuohetaerbieke of host China in Thursday night’s final at the Hangzhou gymnasium.

The 27-year-old Marcial lost by a score of 5-0 in a bout that saw both fighters receiving a standing eight count

The match was tied going to the third and final round, which the five judges eventually awarded to the Chinese bet for the gold.

Marcial, who booked a berth to the Paris Olympics by advancing to the 80 kg finals, settled for the silver, but regretted not winning a fight which he thought went his way.

“Nakakahinayang kasi nakuha ko yung first round,” said Marcial, who won the opening round after tagging the Chinese with a straight right for a standing eight count.

“Akala ko yung last round sa akin, e. Yun ang ramdam ko.”

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino thought the same way.

“Wala tayo laban sa host. Atin yung first and third rounds, malinaw,” he said.

Tuohetaerbieke, a silver winner in the World Championship early this year, rallied back and scored on a combination that forced the referee to give Marcial a standing eight count that took the Filipino by surprise.

The final round was back and forth action with neither fighter backing down.

Both Marcial and the Chinese raised their hands when the bout was over.

“Pero siyempre kailangan kong i-respeto yung decision ng mga judges. Yun ang desisyon nila. Pero congratulations pa rin sa China,” said the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist.

The silver though was an upgrade to the bronze medal Marcial bagged in the 2018 Asiad in Palembang, Indonesia as a middleweight.

Marcial also ended up as the lone medal winner out of the nine-man boxing team.