What better way for Aira Villegas to celebrate her birthday than to give herself a place in the women’s 50kg last eight.
As the lone Philippine athlete in action for Day 6 of the Olympic Games, all eyes are on birthday girl Aira Villegas.
Villegas, who turns 29 years old today, guns for a quarterfinal berth in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 when she squares off against Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in the women’s 50kg event early morning of Thursday, August 2 (PH time).
The pride of Tacloban City made a triumphant Olympics debut last Monday, July 29, after an impressive unanimous decision win over Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco that kick-started the five-athlete Philippine boxing team campaign in Paris 2024.
[ALSO READ: Aira Villegas edges Yasmine Mouttaki via unanimous decision, advances to Round of 16 in Paris 2024 boxing]
With the result still in the balance after the first two rounds in that bout, Villegas sealed the deal with cleaner shots in the final round, including a well-timed left straight to Mouttaki's head inside the last 10 seconds.
“Sobrang fulfilling at sobrang happy ako kasi mindset ko talaga na kailangan kong maipanalo yung laro,” the Pinay pugilist spoke afterwards.
And if she hopes to continue her medal hunt in Paris 2024, Villegas needs to elevate her game in order to overcome Boualam, the second seed of the tournament.
Aside from being a two-time African champion, the Algerian is also a Mediterranean Games gold medalist and Arab Games titlist. The 29-year-old is also no stranger to the Olympics, competing in Tokyo 2020 in the women’s flyweight division before losing to Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand in the round of 32.
Villegas actually spent time with Boualam as the two sparred together in Germany in the Paris 2024 build-up, but the Filipina boxer knew it was a different atmosphere back then.
“Actually, naka-sparring ko siya. Iba po talaga ‘yung sa sparring sa laro…..so kailangan natin pag-aralan at training ulit,” the first-time Olympian bared.
Should Villegas score a massive upset, waiting for her is the winner between European youth champion Daina Moorehouse of Ireland and 2023 European Games silver medalist Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the last eight.