The Philippines’ Aira Villegas won bronze in the women’s 50 kg boxing tournament in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Türkiye, who advanced to the gold-medal match by unanimous decision, ended Villegas’ run at the semi-final stage.
Highlights of the match
Villegas was up against a formidable opponent in second-seeded Cakiroglu, who impressed all five judges in the opening round. The Filipina lost the first round by a short margin because she was unable to come close to her opponent, but still had a lot to fight for.
In the second round, Villegas unexpectedly knocked down her opponent, which gave her the much-needed confidence to deliver some powerful blows. Still, it wouldn’t be enough to overcome Cakiroglu or win the second round. Villegas was unable to catch up with her Turkish opponent after an evenly matched third round, where she had to make up points on the scorecard.
Villegas, who made her Olympic debut, took home a bronze medal in spite of the loss. The boxer joined gymnast Carlos Yulo, who took home two gold medals in the artistic gymnastics category, as the Philippines’ third medallist at Paris 2024.
Meanwhile, Cakiroglu, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, advanced to the women’s 50 kg gold medal match. She will compete against Wu Yu of the People’s Republic of China for the opportunity to earn Turkey’s first gold — fourth overall — medal at Paris 2024.
Rosegie Ramos, a 20-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga City, Philippines, has successfully claimed her spot in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
After winning the women’s 49-kilogram Group B division and lifting 87 kg in the snatch and 103 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 190 kg, she had clearly paved her way to the biggest sports event in the world.
Along with boxers Eumir Marcial, Aira Villegas, and Nesthy Petecio, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and pole vaulter EJ Obiena, Ramos is now a member of the Filipino athletes headed for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Ramos – Current Ranking
Ramos is the current Asian Junior Champion in the women’s 49-kg class. To qualify for the Olympic Games, she had to maintain her current ranking in the Summer Games. With her determination and commitment, she presently ranked eighth place in the Olympic rankings after five qualifying events.
She bravely declared: “All the hard work was worth it. I’m going to Paris.”
Ramos has been working out at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and has been closely monitored by her coach, Tony Agustin.
“I’m still targeting a specific lift where I could compete with the best in the weight category. I’ve been working on it every day and hopefully achieve the goal in the Olympics,’’ said Ramos.
At the Paris Olympics, Team Philippines’s two-time gold medal-winning gymnast Carlos Yulo created a wave of Filipino pride. The 24-year-old became the first male athlete in Philippine history to earn gold medals when he won the men’s floor and vault competitions.
Yulo’s rise in global gymnastics
Yulo first made history by defeating Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat, the previous floor champion, to win a gold medal for the Philippines. The following day, he defeated Artur Davtyan of Armenia and Harry Hepworth of Great Britain in the vault to win his second gold medal.
Yulo’s victories made him the second person from the Philippines to win individual gold medals following weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who took first place in the women’s 55kg event in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Diaz herself congratulated Yulo on social media by stating: “Ipinagmamalaki kita hindi lang sa mga medalya mo kundi dahil sa hirap na pinagdaanan mo para makamit ang tagumpay , para sa sarili at higit pang lalo , para sa bayan.” (“I am proud of you, not only because of your medals but because of the hard work you went through to achieve success, for yourself and, especially, for the country”)
Given the lack of resources in the Philippines, James Zarsadiaz, head of the University of San Francisco’s Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, told NBC News that Yulo’s victories are especially noteworthy. He said: “The countries that medal the most are the ones who have the most wealth, and their citizens have the most money and resources and networks… It’s also not seen as much of a priority … For a lot of people in countries like the Philippines, it’s about survival. And to engage in something like competing for the Olympics is a complete indulgence.”
He added that Yulo’s win destroys the stereotype that Asian men are weak. Zarsadiaz remarked: “A lot of Filipino and a lot of Asian men in general are often seen as not as strong and ‘masculine’ compared to other cultures… This proves that Asian men have just as much prowess to compete in something like this and come out on top.”
Bronze medalist Jaismine Lamboria of the Commonwealth Games had a tough opponent in the women’s 60kg round of 64 battle on Sunday night at the E-Work Arena in Busto Arsizio, Italy. It was an exciting match. She fought hard, but in the first World Olympic boxing qualifier, she was defeated 5-0 by the experienced Japanese fighter Ayaka Taguchi.
The fight was intense and demonstrated the competitors’ unwavering determination, with Taguchi winning dominantly. Lamboria exemplifies the fundamental meaning of sportsmanship and the pursuit of perfection in his career in this very competitive field.
Jaismine’s Loss
Jaismine’s loss at the Olympic qualifiers resulted in the elimination of three of the nine Indian competitors on the first day of competition, a startling development. There was a lot of excitement as these athletes competed for quota spots, but things didn’t go as planned, making the field even more difficult. Despite the losses, the six participants who are still in the running for Olympic glory now face a higher bar of competition and are prepared to demonstrate their tenacity and willpower.
Jaismine’s loss at the end of the Olympic qualifying run set the tone for a fierce competition that saw three strong Indian competitors eliminated early. Excitement filled the arena, but the story took a turn for the worse as things happened.
There are now six determined athletes left in the competition, and the route to quota slots proved to be cruel. A thrilling path filled with moments of skill and perseverance awaits these athletes as they work to overcome obstacles and earn their desired spots on the main Olympic stage.
Lakshya Chahar, the national champion, will compete in the tough 80kg category and square off against Meysam Gheshlaghi, a powerful rival from Iran, in a thrilling match that is scheduled for Monday night. As these two skilled athletes square up in a struggle for supremacy, the stage is set for an exciting match. A spectacular night of action is ahead of you as Chahar and Gheshlaghi compete to win, putting their abilities and resolve on display on the big stage. Be ready for a bout that should have fans on the tip of their seats as two elite fighters battle it out for supremacy in the ring.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) declared that Romanian gymnast Ana Bărbosu will receive the bronze medal that American gymnast Jordan Chiles initially won in the floor exercise at the 2024 Paris Games.
The decision follows a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that the previous inquiry made by the USA over Chiles’ score in Monday’s gymnastics floor exercise final was filed after the one-minute deadline.
The US is still contesting that ruling, and the USA Gymnastics declared that it had provided CAS with more proof in an attempt to get gymnast Chiles’ medal returned.
Bărbosu to become a bronze medallist
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced that Bărbosu’s ranking would be raised to third with a score of 13.700 and that Chiles’ initial score of 13.666 would be reinstated. Furthermore, the IOC affirmed that Chiles will lose her bronze medal.
The IOC declared in a statement: “Following the CAS decision with regard to the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final and the amendment of the ranking by the International Gymnastics Federation, the IOC will reallocate the bronze medal to Ana Barbosu (Romania)… We are in touch with the NOC of Romania to discuss the reallocation ceremony and with USOPC regarding the return of the bronze medal.”
However, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee declared that it will file an appeal against the ruling. The US committee said: “We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed.”
“Given these circumstances, we are committed to pursuing an appeal to help Jordan Chiles receive the recognition she deserves. We remain dedicated to supporting her as an Olympic champion and will continue to work diligently to resolve this matter swiftly and fairly,” they added.
Manny Pacquiao, 44, is no doubt one of the best boxers in the world. With twelve major titles in eight different weight divisions, a stellar record of 62 wins, 2 draws, and 8 losses, and the title of “Boxer of the Decade” from the World Boxing Council, Pacquiao remained a boxing icon despite retiring in 2021.
To add to this achievement, Pacquiao also ran for senator in the Philippines in 2015 and won the elections in 2016.
But this boxer-turned-politician has one more dream that he has yet to fulfill: winning a gold medal in the Olympics. It had always been a dream of his ever since he was young, but since he needed to financially support his family, he decided to postpone this dream and train to become a professional instead. In 1995, he finally became a pro and started to compete for world titles.
Fast forward to the future Pacquiao is now the living legend of the boxing arena
But what many didn’t know was that in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Pacquiao had the chance to fulfill his dream of being hailed as a gold medalist, as it was during this year that the International Boxing Association (IBA) lifted the restriction on professional boxers from competing in the Olympics. But having recently won a seat as a senator in his country, he opted out and focused on serving his countrymen.
This year, however, the boxing champion is more determined than ever to join the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Pacquiao’s camp contacted him on Wednesday to discuss how the eight-division world champion can qualify for the Paris Olympics.
“One hundred percent, under the right circumstances, Manny would love to compete],” Gibbons wrote in a text message. “[It has] always been a dream of his to represent the Philippines in the Olympics. He never had a chance because at 16 his family was dead broke, and he needed to go professional to help everyone.”
“Senator Pacquiao’s camp reached out, saying our Filipino ring idol wants to fight in Paris,” Tolentino said. “But the Senator can no longer vie for qualification in the Asian Games in Hangzhou next month.”, Tolentino said.
Tolentino also stated that the POC has begun discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is overseeing Olympic boxing while the International Boxing Association (IBA) is suspended, and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).
Three options were explored for Pacquiao this year, through the Asian Games, through the Universality Rule, and through the two tournaments next year.
The first option was already ruled out as the Asian Games, an Olympic qualifying event, have a 40 year-old age limit in all sports.
The next two options are then his only chances of ever joining the PH team in the Paris Olympics next year. Tolentino explained that he could either join the PH team by winning in the two tournaments that will commence in the first and second quarters of 2024 or by securing one Olympic spot (out of four spots available for men) under the Universality rule from the OIC.
Tolentino also said that the ABAP, headed by their chairman, Ricky Vargas, will be able to accommodate Pacquiao on the national team and help him in the qualification process. Pacquiao is currently weighing in at 66 kilograms, but he can choose between 63.50 kilograms and 71 kilograms for the Paris boxing program.
