Up next for Aira Villegas is third seed Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey, with the winner advancing to the finals.
In enemy territory, Aira Villegas remained unfazed and knew the task at hand.
It was the women's 50kg quarterfinals of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. A win would assure the victor of an Olympic medal.
Even with the French crowd booing her, Villegas found a way to win tightly fought contest that could have gone either towards her or towards France's Wassila Lkhadiri.
“Wala akong pakialam sa maraming nagchi-cheer, mas lalong nabu-boost ako. Sabi ko, kailangan manahimik 'tong crowd,’ Villegas said after scoring a split decision win over home bet Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the women’s 50kg quarterfinals.
[ALSO READ: Aira Villegas secures a semis spot, sure medal in women's 50kg boxing of Olympic Games Paris 2024]
The Filipina pride is now through to the semifinals and became the first boxer to reach the medal round in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Her victory also means that the Philippines – celebrating 100 years of participation in the Olympics – will bring home multiple medals from consecutive Olympics for the first time in history.
[ALSO READ: History! Carlos Yulo bags Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal in floor exercise of Paris 2024]
Just a few days after her rousing unanimous-decision, birthday win over Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam in the second round, Villegas knew she had to work hard against the woman who grew up just a few minutes from the North Paris Arena.
The bout remained in the balance after the first two rounds, with three of the five judges scoring it a tie. The other two each giving Villegas and Lkhadiri the nod.
Villegas did just enough in the final round to clinch the win, helping the Philippine boxing team to get back on track after Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Carlo Paalam fell short of the semifinals earlier.
The 29-year-old also dedicated the victory to Paalam and other compatriots Eumir Marcial, Hergie Bacdayan who ended their Paris 2024 journey prematurely.
“Inaalay ko rin 'to sa mga kasamahan ko, kina Eumir, Hergie, tapos kay Carlo kanina. Nalungkot ako pero sabi ko kailangan ko siyang gawing motivation para ibawi 'yung kasamahan ko.”
She also didn't forget Ed Picson, the late Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president who passed away April this year. He was the one who discovered her talent.
[With reports from Carlo Pamintuan/Cignal TV, One Sports]