Boxer Aira Villegas tackles famed Turkish foe in Paris Olympics semis

Filipina boxer Aira Villegas is already assured of a medal, but she is hoping to earn a place in the gold medal match as she steps onto the ring of the women's 50kg semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics on early Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Villegas will tackle third-seeded Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey at 4:18 a.m. as the boxing competition transfers to the famous Roland-Garros Stadium in France.

Villegas is coming off a tight 3-2 victory over French bet Wassila Lkhadiri of France in the quarterfinals, which guaranteed her of at least a bronze medal with a chance to go for the silver and gold medals.

But the road to glory gets tougher for the Filipina. Cakiroglu is one of the top favorites in the division after having won a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, making her armed with the skills and experience.

Cakiroglu, 28, earned a Round of 32 bye and has been dominant in the succeeding rounds since. She pulled off two unanimous decision wins against Fatima Herrera of Mexico in Round of 16 and Pihla Kaivo-Oja in the quarterfinals.

Villegas, though, is just as tough. She also eked out unanimous triumphs against Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco and Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria before a split decision escape against the hometown bet.

A win will set Villegas up for a finals clash against either top seed Yu Wu of China or Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, trackster John Cabang Tolentino was scheduled to see action in the men's 110m hurdles repechage at 4:50 p.m. but will no longer run due to an injury.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News