Metro Manila, Philippines — Aira Villegas advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 50 kilogram (kg) division after scoring a unanimous decision victory over second seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria Friday in the Paris 2024 Olympics at the North Paris Arena.
Celebrating her 29th birthday on Aug. 1, it was a double celebration for Villegas who got the nod of all of the five judges scoring the match as she continued to be impressive in her Olympic debut.
Villegas, a southpaw from Tacloban City, is the second Filipino boxer to make it to the quarterfinals after Carlo Paalam in the men’s 57 kg division.
Nesthy Petecio will try to book a quarterfinals ticket as she squares off against Amina Zidani of France in the women’s 57 kg Round of 16 on Aug. 3.
Villegas will battle hometown bet Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarterfinals on Aug. 4.
A win over Lkhadiri will assure Villegas of a medal in the quadrennial meet.
