Aira Villegas is one step closer to securing the Philippines’ second gold medal after her narrow 3-2 victory over France’s Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarterfinals of the women’s 50-kilogram class on Sunday at the North Paris Arena.
Villegas, one of the only two remaining Filipino boxers in the competition, delivered a stunning performance that silenced the local supporters, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal for her efforts.
Next, she will face Turkey’s Buze Nas Cakiroglu in the semifinals, aiming for a historic gold in her first Olympic outing.
Earlier in the tournament, Villegas triumphed over Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the Round of 32 and Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam in the Round of 16.