Filipina boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas have punched out of the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing home Olympic Bronze Medals in their respective boxing divisions.
The boxing champions from Davao del Sur and Tacloban City reached the semifinal matches in their boxing categories, enough to secure the country’s highly coveted Olympic medal.
SEE Filipina Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas Secure Olympic Medals, Eye Gold in Semis
Team Philippines’ flag bearer Petecio outmatched her opponents in the women’s 57kg division, from Indian boxer Jaismine Lamboria in the Round of 32, Amina Zidani of France during the Round of 16, to Zichun Xi of China in the Quarterfinal.
The Pinay Tokyo 2020 silver medalist unexpectedly lost to first-time Olympian Julia Szeremeta of Poland via a split decision in their semifinal match early morning of August 8 (Philippine Standard Time).
Despite the loss, Petecio cemented her name as a two-time Olympic medalist in boxing. For her efforts and achievements, Petecio will receive an incentive of PHP2,000,000.
First-time Olympian Villegas, on the other hand, captured her bronze medal by defeating her rivals in the women’s boxing 50kg division, including Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco in the Round of 32, Algeria’s bet Roumaysa Boualam from Algeria in the Round of 16, and Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the Quarterfinals.
But just like Petecio, Villegas fell short in her semifinal silver medal match against Buze Nas Cakiroglu of Turkey early morning of August 7 (Philippine Time).
Villegas will also receive a PHP2,000,000 incentive for her feat.
In her Olympic debut, Villegas already etched her name among the Filipino boxing Olympians who brought honor and medals to the Philippines since the country started participating in the world’s biggest sporting event in 1924. This year, the Philippines marks 100 years of participation in the Olympics.
READ: Philippines Celebrates 100 Years in the Olympics: From David Nepomuceno to the 2024 Paris Games
Here is the list of Filipino boxers who won medals in the Olympics through the years:
- 1932 Los Angeles – Jose Villanueva (Bronze)
- 1964 Tokyo – Anthony Villanueva (Silver)
- 1988 Seoul – Leopoldo Serrantes (Bronze)
- 1992 Barcelona – Roel Velasco (Bronze)
- 1996 Atlanta – Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco (Silver)
- 2020 Tokyo – Eumir Felix Marcial (Bronze)
- 2020 Tokyo – Carlo Paalam (Silver)
- 2020 Tokyo – Nesthy Petecio (Silver)
- 2024 Paris – Aira Villegas (Bronze)
- 2024 Paris – Nesthy Petecio (Bronze)
As of this writing, Team Philippines has secured four medals in the 33rd Olympiad. Carlos Yulo won the first two golds in men’s artistic gymnastics.
CHECK: RESULTS & SCHEDULES: Team Philippines Medal Hunt at Paris Olympics
Team Philippines still has two medal hopefuls, Bianca Pagdangan in Golf and Vanessa Sarno in Weightlifting, before the Paris Olympics ends on August 11.
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