Aira Villegas is now two wins away from a gold medal in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women’s 50kg boxing.
From 22, there are now only seven Filipino athletes competing in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Among them is Filipina boxer Aira Villegas.
Villegas is now set to face no. 3 seed Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey in the women’s 50kg semifinals at the Roland Garros Stadium.
While already assured of at least a bronze medal, expect Villegas to go all out in the hopes of following up a twin gold performance of Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo.
But the first-time Filipino Olympian is confronted with the tall task of edging the bemedaled Cakiroglu, a three-time European Championships gold medalist.
The 5-foot-5 Cakiroglu also claimed the silver medal in Tokyo 2020.
But the 29-year-old Filipina from Tacloban thrives in challenges.
Before setting up the semifinal clash against Cakiroglu, Villegas had to overcome hometown bet Wassila Lkhadiri via split decision before a raucous French crowd booing her at the North Paris Arena.
[RELATED STORY: The crowd silencer: Aira Villegas responds to coach’s challenge in biggest way possible, dedicates Paris 2024 quarterfinal win to PH boxers]
Her mettle will be tested anew at 4:18am on August 7 (Philippine time) when she steps into the ring against the Turkish foe.