Aira Villegas punches QF ticket in Olympic boxing on her birthday

Aira Villegas received probably one of the best birthday gifts she could ever get — a ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Villegas moved a step closer to an Olympic medal after winning against Algeria's Roumaysa Boualam via unanimous decision in the Round of 16 of the women's 50kg event on early Friday (Philippine time).

The Filipina, who turned 29 on August 1, won on the scorecards, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27.

Villegas got the nod of all five judges in the first round, but a tighter round followed as Boualam won 3-2 in Round 2.

However, Boualam's tempo seemed to drop in the third round late while Villegas flashed her moves en route to the victory.

In the Round of 32, Villegas defeated Morroco's Yasmine Mouttaki.

Heading into the quarters, Villegas will go against hometown bet Wassila Lkhadiri on early Sunday (3:20 a.m.). Should she enter the semis, she is already assured of at least a bronze medal in the Summer Games.

READ MORE | Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics

—JKC, GMA Integrated News