Paris 2024 bronze medalist Aira Villegas will have the chance to add a SEA Games 2025 gold medal after a big semis win in women's 50kg boxing.
Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas is on the brink of her first SEA Games gold after a unanimous decision win over Myanmar’s Mya Moe Thu in the women’s flyweight (50kg) semifinal on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center.
With at least a silver medal, the 30-year-old southpaw also became the third Filipino boxer to reach the Finals in these SEA Games 2025 after Jay Bryan Baricuatro and Flint Jara.
Villegas swept all five judges’ scorecards, with three scoring 30-27 and two scoring 30-26 in her favor.
“For me, this is an opportunity and a blessing, kasi yung pangarap ko na Olympic is natupad na. Yung upcoming tournaments are blessings to represent my country,” she said in a post-match interview with Cignal.
She added, “Tapos na yung pangarap ko para sa sarili ko, which is makapag-Olympics, but for my country, hindi pa natatapos.”
Villegas will face the winner of the other semifinal between Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat and Israelah Athena Bonita Saweho of Indonesia in the gold medal match.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.