Filipina boxer Aira Villegas has won a bronze medal for the Philippines in the women’s 50kg boxing category at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her Olympic journey concluded on August 7 with a loss in the semifinals to Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu, a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist.
Cakiroglu dominated the match from the beginning, landing numerous punches and knocking Villegas down early in the first round. Despite a strong effort from Villegas in the second round, including a near-knockdown that was ruled a slip, Cakiroglu maintained control. The Turkish boxer won the bout by unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27, and 30-26.
Villegas’ bronze medal adds to the Philippines’ Olympic tally, which also includes two golds won by gymnast Carlos Yulo.
Born on August 1, 1995, in Tacloban, Villegas began boxing at the age of nine, trained by her older brother Rominick. Inspired by her brother and driven by a desire to support her family, she moved to Manila to pursue a professional boxing career.
At 16, Villegas joined the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), marking the start of her amateur career. She earned a bronze medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and competed in the IBA Women’s World Championships in 2019 and 2022, as well as the 2022 Asian Games.
In 2022, Villegas was awarded an Olympics Solidarity Scholarship Grant by the International Olympic Committee, aiding her preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics.