Aira has eyes on unfinished business in Los Angeles 2028
Aira Villegas fell short of the gold medal in her first Olympics. But instead of taking it easy, she is amplifying her efforts even with the next Summer Games in Los Angeles still a long way’s away.
Villegas is already with the national boxing team in its Baguio City camp since two weeks ago, and the Paris Games bronze medalist in the women’s light-fly division will just take a short break next weekend to accept her award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association on Jan. 27 at Manila Hotel.
“I told her to return to the camp at once after the awarding ceremony. There’s no time to relax,’’ said national women’s boxing coach Reynaldo Galido in Filipino.
“Los Angeles [2028] is still a long way, but I’m fully committed to get there and get another medal,’’ said Villegas in Filipino.
The 29-year-old southpaw from Tacloban City formed part of the country’s finest finish in the Olympic Games last year when gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo pulled off a historic double-gold output that went with bronzes of fellow boxers Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial.
“If they stay committed to what we are doing, I’m sure we can medal again in Los Angeles. But we have to double our efforts,’’ said Galido.
Villegas is raring to sustain her Paris success in the 2025 World Boxing Championships from Sept. 4 to 14 in Liverpool, England followed by the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.
“I have to prepare well for those competitions, but I’m also excited about the other tournaments where we will participate,’’ said Villegas.
