Villegas bags Olympic bronze in boxing debut

Filipina boxer Aira Villegas secured a bronze medal in her debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics after losing in the semifinals of the women's 50kg boxing event.

She lost via unanimous decision to Türkiye's Buse Naz Çakıroğlu, a former world champion and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist.

Villegas apologized to Filipinos for not being able to win a medal higher than bronze, stating "I apologize. I promised [I was] gonna go back after Tokyo and do better. I did, but it didn't change in my book. I still came up short."

Despite the outcome, she expressed "We're able to bring home a medal and I hope I still made you all proud."

Villegas aims to win an Olympic gold medal before retiring, hoping to hear the Philippine national anthem played for her in the Olympics.

This bronze medal brings the Philippines' total medal count in the Paris Games to two golds and one bronze, with Carlos Yulo winning the two gold medals.

Villegas is the second Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal.