TACLOBAN CITY, March 18 -- Aira Villegas is still on cloud nine a week after clinching a slot to this year's Paris Olympics

"It is my dream to compete and represent our country in the Olympics," Villegas, 28, told reporters in an interview here Monday.

She punched her way to Paris with a 5-0 win over Bulgaria's Zlatislava Chukanova in the 50kg quarterfinals of the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy on March 12.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio clinched her Paris slot in the same tournament, beating Turkiye's Esra Yildiz, 4-1, in the semifinal of the 57kg category.

Villages credits her elder brother, Rominick, for introducing her to the sport.

Rominick was a scholar of the provincial governmen...