MANILA — Filipina boxer Aira Villegas battled not just her opponents but also a bevy of injuries on her way to winning a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this month.
The secretary-general of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) revealed during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum that Villegas was dealing with issues in her knee, foot, and shoulder during the build-up to the Summer Games.
“Ang dami (injuries), may shoulder tendinopathy, mild ACL sprain, compartment syndrome sa left foot,” said ABAP sec-gen Marcus Manalo, noting that the 29-year-old boxer could not step foot in the ring with just a month left before the biggest competition of her life.
“Unang sabak niya sa sparring nandun na kami sa France (Metz training camp). And then yung actual sparring niya andun na kami sa Germany, two weeks na lang before the Olympics. Yun na yung actual sparring against some of the opponents na nakaharap niya rin dun (Paris),” he explained.
Daily rehab and help from the ABAP support staff ultimately allowed Villegas to exceed expectations in her first stint in the Olympics.
“Big competition na ito so ang focus ko doon is to get a medal,” said Villegas, who won her first two bouts against Yasmine Moutaqui (Morocco) and Roumaysa Boualam (Algeria), the same boxer she sparred in Germany while still recovering from her injuries, to set up a quarterfinal clash with home bet Wassila Lkhadiri.
A pep talk from her coach, Reynaldo Galido, ahead of the semifinal match fueled Villegas into a sure bronze.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, itong laban natin mabigat ito, hometown bet ang kalaban natin. Pero sabi ko huwag mong isipin yan, huwag mong isipin yung crowd. Kasi itong laban na ito ang makakapag-pabago sa buhay mo. Isipin mo yung mga magulang mo, mga kapatid mo,” said Galido.
While that ended her shot at winning a gold medal, it only made Villegas hungrier for more success in the future.
“Aware akong bronze medalist ako, pero hindi ko pa rin siya maramdaman kasi yung utak ko and yung feeling ko, hindi ko pa nakukuha yung gold, so kailangan kong abutin pa yung goal ko,” said Villegas. “Grateful pa rin ako sa lahat ng blessings, pero kailangan ko pa ring mag-trabaho para makamit ang goal ko.”
News
Eldrew Yulo Steps into the Limelight: Following in Brother Carlos’ Footsteps as SEAAA 2024 Ambassador
In an exciting development for the sporting world, Eldrew Yulo, the younger brother of celebrated gymnast Carlos Yulo, has been named the Ambassador for the Southeast Asian Achievement Awards (SEAAA) 2024. This prestigious role highlights Eldrew’s outstanding accomplishments and his…
Ogie Diaz, nausisa si Gerald Anderson ukol sa nababalitang kasal na umano sila ni Julia Barretto
– Natanong ni Ogie Diaz si Gerald Anderson tungkol sa nababalitang kasal na ito kay Julia Barretto – Ayon sa nababalita, sa Amerika raw umano nagpakasal ang dalawa – Gayunpaman, sinabi ni Ogie na sakaling totoo ito ay wala naman…
May Violation Ulit! It’S Showtime, Bibigyan Ulit Ng Parusa Nang MTRCB Dahil Naman Kay Vice Ganda
Kapamilya noontime show na It’s Showtime, maaring mapatawan na naman ng panibagong parusa ng MTRCB nang dahil muli sa Unkabogable Star na si Vice Ganda. Muling tinawag ng ilang mga netizens ang pansin ng MTRCB, dahil sa naging pahayag…
BREAKING NEWS: Binggo Na! Its Showtime Nanganganib Na Muling Masuspinde?!
Sa pinakabagong episode ng It’s Showtime, muling nakakuha ng pansin ang Unkabogable Star na si Vice Ganda dahil sa kanyang mga kontrobersyal na biro. Ang mga birada ni Vice Ganda ay naglalaman ng mga pahayag na tila may target…
Vice Ganda, sinagot ang netizen na sinabihan siyang wag pisikalin si Anne Curtis
– Vice Ganda recently responded to some netizens on Twitter – One netizen called him out and told him to avoid having “pisikilan” jokes with Anne Curtis – It didn’t take long for Vice to address the said tweet –…
Gerald Anderson’s mother opens up about relationship between Bea Alonzo and her son: ‘I never liked her!’
27 Aug – Gerald Anderson’s mother Evangeline Opsima is definitely unhappy with the controversy surrounding her son’s breakup with Bea Alonzo, as she recently admitted that she has never liked the actress for her son. As reported on Rappler, Opsima, known…
End of content
No more pages to load