Aira Villegas made sure Team Philippines will not be losing another boxer in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, after advancing to the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg class.
Birthday or not, Filipina boxer Aira Villegas was brimming with confidence when she entered the ring for her round of 16 battle against Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in their in Paris 2024.
Villegas immediately stamped her class as she used her speed to land scoring punches against the African Games champion.
While Boualam tried her best to recover and steal the victory, the 29-year-old Pinay boxer did just enough to secure a unanimous victory and continue her Olympic journey.
[ALSO READ: Birthday victory: Aira Villegas advances to quarterfinals after overcoming Algerian foe in Paris 2024]
After the match, Villegas credited her coaches with giving her the confidence boost she needed to succeed against the second-seeded Boualam.
“'Yung kumpiyansa siyempre tulong din ng coaches ko. Sa tulong din ng coaches ko, iba din talaga 'yung feeling na 'yung coaches mo buo 'yung loob. Nasasama ka eh, tumatapang ka din,” Villegas told Paris 2024 correspondent Carlo Pamintuan.
Another factor for Villegas’ determination to win the match was for her boxing teammates Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan, who have been eliminated from Paris 2024.
“Sabi ko kailangan ko i-panalo ito, hindi lang para sa akin, siyempre para dun sa mga kasamahan ko,” said Villegas.
Marcial was eliminated in the round of 16 after falling to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the the men’s 80kg class. Bacyadan, on the other hand, crashed out of the women's 75kg division after losing to top seed Li Qian of China.
Though winning the match was among her wishes for her birthday, Villegas admitted that this was just a part of her bigger wish.
“Natupad na rin naman 'yung una [na wish] pero siyempre, 'yung pinaka-wish ko pa is maka-sungkit tayo ng medalya,” Villegas emphasized.
Villegas will be hoping that her birthday wish will still be in effect on Sunday, August 4, as she takes on hometown favorite Wassila Lkhadiri of France.
(With reports from Carlo Pamintuan/Cignal TV, One Sports)
Story Summary:
-
Filipina boxer Aira Villegas confidently secured a unanimous victory over Algeria's Roumaysa Boualam in the round of 16 at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, using her speed to dominate the match on her birthday.
-
Villegas credited her coaches for boosting her confidence and dedicated her win to her eliminated boxing teammates, Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan, highlighting the importance of their support.
-
Aiming for an Olympic medal, Villegas will face hometown favorite Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the quarterfinals on August 4, hoping her birthday wish for a medal remains in effect.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]