Filipina boxer Aira Villegas is set to compete in the women’s 50kg semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, hoping to secure a spot in the gold medal match. The 29-year-old Villegas will face third-seeded Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey on Wednesday at 4:18 a.m. at the Roland-Garros Stadium.
Villegas has already guaranteed herself a medal after a narrow 3-2 victory over France’s Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarterfinals, ensuring at least a bronze medal with the potential for silver or gold.
Challenging Opponent:
Cakiroglu, 28, is a formidable opponent, having won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. She received a bye in the Round of 32 and has since dominated with unanimous decision wins against Fatima Herrera of Mexico in the Round of 16 and Pihla Kaivo-Oja in the quarterfinals.
Villegas’ Journey:
Villegas has shown her toughness with unanimous victories over Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco and Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria before her split decision win against Lkhadiri.
A win against Cakiroglu would propel Villegas into the finals, where she would face either top seed Yu Wu of China or Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan.