Then there are our two valiant Filipina boxers who have punched their way to Olympic glory with their hard-earned bronze medals: Olympic debutante Aira Villegas and now two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio.
Aira entered the North Paris Arena to a sea of boos—which was expected as she was going up against hometown bet Wassila Lkhadiri in the 50kg division of women’s boxing. Despite the homecourt advantage of her opponent, the 29-year-old boxer looked upbeat, seemingly energized by a unanimous birthday win last August 2 over Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam.
