One of the Philippines’ projected medalists will not make it to the podium at the 20th Asian Games.
Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas struggled throughout the fight as she was shut out by India’s Sakshi Chaudhary, who won by unanimous decision in their women’s 51-kilogram preliminary bout Tuesday at Nishio Gymnasium in Nishio City.
Villegas started tentatively and was kept at bay by the taller Chaudhary, who used her superior jab to control the distance and catch the Filipina whenever she tried to get inside.
Chaudhary, a gold medalist at the 2025 World Boxing Cup and the 2026 Commonwealth Games, continued to dictate the pace in the opening round and earned the nod of all five judges.
Villegas came out more aggressively in the second round, looking to make up for lost ground.
(C) POC Media Group
But the wily Indian showed she could also handle close-quarters exchanges, getting the better of the exchanges and once again receiving all five judges’ votes.
The final round proved even more difficult for Villegas, as her attempts to score from the inside left her vulnerable to Chaudhary’s accurate counterpunching.
The Indian again earned the nod from all five judges, with one judge scoring the round 10-8 in her favor.
Villegas’ early exit leaves the Philippines with just five boxers remaining in the competition.
