MANILA – Filipina boxer Aira Villegas settled for a bronze medal finish after a unanimous decision loss to Buse Naz Çakıroğlu of Turkey in the semifinals round of the women’s 50kg class in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France.
The third-seed Çakıroğlu showcased her experience well to secure a 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26, 30-26 unanimous decision verdict against Villegas and moved on to the gold medal round.
A standing eight-count in the opening round put Villegas behind early on the scorecards, but the Filipina boxer responded with her attacks early in the second round.
Çakıroğlu, however, was able to tagged her with counters, including a right uppercut, to close the second round before the Turkish fighter held on to the win by playing safe against the Filipina in the third round.
“Sa lahat ng Pilipino na napuyat (para manood sa fight ko), sorry. Nakapag-uwi po ako ng medal, sana proud pa rin kayo sa akin,” Villegas said in an interview after the game.
“Hindi naman po ako super disappointed kasi ginawa ko ‘yung best ko,” she added. “Magaling talaga siya, aminado ako magaling siya. Pero, for me, nagawa ko ‘yung best ko.”
Villegas became the second female boxer to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines after gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, who won two gold medals in men’s floor exercise and vault event.
Meanwhile, Filipino hurdler John Cabang Tolentino begged off from campaigning in the repechage run in the men’s 110m hurdles after suffering an injury minutes before his scheduled event.
“I am so sorry. I’m not gonna be able to run due to an injury,” Tolentino wrote on his social media page on Tuesday. “Thanks to all people who supported me. Laban Pilipinas!”
Tolentino’s Olympic debut took place at the Stade de France on Sunday afternoon where he finished sixth in his heat, earning him a qualification for the repechage round.
With his withdrawal, the Philippines’ track and field stint in the Paris Olympics has officially concluded. Fellow hurdler Lauren Hoffman was eliminated in the repechage, while pole vault sensation EJ Obiena secured a fourth-place finish in the finals./PN
