Aira Villegas bronze Paris Olympics 2024 women's boxing 50kg semifinal

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

Don’t get her wrong, but Aira Villegas isn’t entirely satisfied with her feat in the Paris Olympics.

“I’m aware that I’m a bronze medalist. But in my mind, I don’t feel like it,’’ said Villegas in Filipino.

Villegas admitted that she never doubted her ability to emerge at the top of the ladder in the 50-kilogram division of women’s Olympic boxing, yet, the bungled chance has kept the 29-year-old pride of Tacloban City brimming with hope.

“I wasn’t able to get the gold, so I need to reach my goal,’’ said Villegas despite the peril of boxing being excluded from the program of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics for good.

Rewards came drizzling down on Villegas for reaching the podium on the grandest stage with cash bonuses from both the government and the private sector upon her arrival with Paris medalists, two-time gold winner Carlos Yulo of gymnastics, and fellow boxer Nesthy Petecio last week.

Villegas received P2 million from the government under Republic Act No. 10699 known as the Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act plus another P2 million from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

She got to increase her wealth nearly twice by receiving P2.5 million from the House of Representatives and another million from the Senate.

“I’m grateful for all the blessings, but I must continue working to accomplish my real goal,’’ said Villegas, who said that she was bothered by various injuries prior to Paris and had to endure them on her journey to the medal rounds.

Villegas defeated Morocco’s Yasmine Moutaqui, Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam and hometown bet Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarterfinals before dropping the semifinal bout opposite a vastly experienced Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkiye, ultimately dissolving her golden dream.

Villegas sucked in the effects of a hurting shoulder, a mild ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) sprain and a piercing pain on her left foot that kept her out of the ring for about a month before the Olympics.

“It’s a big competition and I know that this could be life-changing, so I focused more on getting a medal,’’ said Villegas.