Aira Villegas (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Aira Villegas kicked off the five-member boxing team’s bid with a unanimous decision win over Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the women’s 50-kilogram division at North Paris Arena early Monday (PH time).
The judges submitted scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.
The 28-year-old Olympics Solidarity scholar will take on Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam in the round of 16 on Aug. 2 at 2:16 a.m. (PH time).
Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Nesthy Petecio is up next in the women’s 57kg at 11:54 p.m. Tuesday (PH time); swimmer Kayla Sanchez plunges into the women’s 100m freestyle heat; and Joanie Delgaco rows in the quarterfinals.
On Wednesday, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Eumir Marcial (men’s 80kg) opens his bid at 3:04 a.m.; Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg) at 6:04 p.m.; and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg) at 9:30 p.m., all PH time.
Female gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Levi Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo didn’t make it past the qualification phase on Sunday.
As of the 2 p.m. medal tally, Japan and Australia lead with four gold medals each, while the United States, France, South Korea and China have three each.
