2024 PARIS OLYMPICS 5: AIRA VILLEGAS ADVANCES TO THE QUARTERFINALS IN WOMEN'S BOXING 50 KG DIVISION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Aug 2024
Aira Villegas utilized her marvelous speed in upsetting No. 2 seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria to advance to the quarterfinals of the women’s 50kg boxing tournament in the Paris Olympics on Friday.
It was her 29th birthday and Villegas, as a fitting gift, scored a unanimous decision victory over Boualam. She advanced together with Tokyo silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam as the only three Filipino boxers who are fighting for medals in the Games.
Villegas will fight Wassilia Lkhadiri of France on August 4 in the quarterfinals. Petecio will tangle with first-time Olympian Amina Zidani of France on August 3. Paalam will face fourth seed Charlie Senior of Australia also on Saturday, August 3, for a spot in the semifinals.
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Kyla Sanchez made her debut for the Philippines in the women's 100m freestyle, placing fourth in her heats to advance to the next round. However, the Fil-Canadian swimmer placed 15th in the semifinals, while only the top eight would advance to the finals.
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Joanie Delgaco finished in the 20th spot in the overall ranking of the women’s single sculls category in rowing. The volleyball player-turned-rower reached the quarterfinals via the repechage. Delgaco was the first female Filipina rower to compete in the Olympics.
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Team USA never let South Sudan take the lead from the opening tip until final buzzer to a score a 103-86 win and improved it's record to 2-0 in the men’s basketball competition of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, July 31 (Thursday, August 1, Manila time).
Bam Adebayo led the Americans with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks as Team USA won easily after defeating South Sudan by only one point during their exhibition game.
Five other players scored in double figures for the USA, with Kevin Durant firing 14 points, Anthony Edwards 13, LeBron James 12, and Devin Booker and Derrick White contributing 10 points each. The win secured the Americans a spot in the quarterfinals.
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