Sorry, Aira Villegas says, after taking bronze medal in Paris

Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu and The Philippines’ Aira Villegas (Blue) compete in the women’s 50kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris Olympics at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 6, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

First it was EJ Obiena.

Then, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after the chance to turn a bronze medal into something shinier slipped away, Aira Villegas followed suit.

“I’m sorry,” she said, directing her apologies primarily to the people who fought off sleep to catch her semifinal duel against the laser-guided Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkiye in the 50-kilogram division of women’s boxing of the Paris Olympics. The day before, Obiena also apologized to the nation after failing to reach the podium—only barely—in the pole vault.

“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. I’m really sorry. I apologize for it,” said Obiena, who placed 11th in the Tokyo Games and settled for fourth at Stade de France.

Villegas ran into an accurate-punching opponent and missed out on a final ticket after bowing to Cakiroglu at Stade Roland Garros.

The Filipino’s bronze medal thus becomes officially chalked up in the medal tally, with the Philippines now at two golds and a bronze.

Carlos Yulo won both gold medals after ruling the floor exercise and vault finals over the weekend.

It was the first time in Olympic history that the national anthem was played twice in a single Games.

And if it were up to Villegas, it won’t be the last.

“I have a dream that before I retire, I want to hear our national anthem playing in the Olympics,” said Villegas.

Villegas’ feat came a day before Nesthy Petecio’s semifinal bout.

Petecio, a silver medalist in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, was fighting Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in the women’s 57-kg class at press time.

The bronze also came on the eve of the last bath of athletes to see action in Paris: the country’s weightlifters.

Weightlifting gave the country its first Olympic gold in history when Hidilyn Diaz (now Diaz-Naranjo) ruled the women’s 55-kg division in Tokyo.

Late Wednesday, men’s bet John Febuar Ceniza kicked off the PH lifters’ turn in the limelight.

Foe came prepared

Philippines’ Aira Villegas (Blue) receives instructions from the coach during the break while competing against Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu in the women’s 50kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris Olympics at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 6, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP)

Also part of the squad are Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando and Asian champion Vanessa Sarno.

Villegas, the least heralded of the five-person PH boxing squad, made an unexpected run to the semifinals of the flyweight division and was hoping to catch Cakiroglu by surprise.

The Turkish flyweight star, however, came prepared.

“I know she really prepared for me. I also studied her and we have the same style. She’s just a good fighter who creates distance,” Villegas said

Cakiroglu was dominant all bout long, and won on all judges’ scorecards. She hasn’t lost a single card on her road to the final, a show of dominance unmatched in the tournament.

Cakiroglu set the pace early, rocking Villegas with a combination to the head that forced a standing count.

Villegas showed flashes of a comeback in the second, at one point tagging a backpedaling Cakiroglu with a 1-2 that saw the Turkiye bet landing on the floor. But the fall was ruled a slip.

“I’m not super disappointed because I know I did my best. And I have to admit, [my opponent] is really good and she studied me well,” Villegas said.

Villegas went all out in the third, but every time she launched an attack, Cakiroglu would manage to land combinations. The Turkiye bet, her country’s first female Olympic medalist for boxing, was just too accurate for Villegas.

“But we’re able to bring home a medal and I hope I still made you all proud,” the Filipino said. Judging by the response of those who turned Olympic viewing in the country as an all-nighter, Villegas earned that pride.

And the apologies were definitely not needed.