Friday Sep 20, 2024
Friday Sep 20, 2024
Wednesday, 31 January 2024 01:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Umayanga Mihiran was adjudged the most outstanding boxer of the year at the 96th National Boxing Championships dominated by Army (men) and Air Force (women) pugilists at the Royal MAS Arena.
The 21-year-old displayed sublime skills and proved his class to prevail over Army’s K.A.S.K. Abeygunawardana in the Fly weight (under 51kg) title clash with the bout having to be stopped in the opening round after the rugged soldier bled profusely from an eye cut sustained from a barrage of punches.
Mihiran representing Police BC bounced back after being runner-up at the Layton Cup tournament to retain the title he won on his debut at the 2022 National Championship last year. He is Sri Lanka’s brightest for the future having represented the country at the World Boxing Championship in Uzbekistan and winning a gold medal at a youth international tournament in Malaysia last year.
Army and Air Force pugilists stole the limelight at the Nationals conducted by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) with more than 150 men and women boxers representing 20 clubs vied for honours in the 2023 edition of the Nationals with a total of 129 bouts being worked off during five days of exciting competition from January 13 to 17.
This edition of the Nationals held significance as it served as a selection trial by BASL for the formation of a national pool and the selection of representatives for Olympic qualifying and other international tournaments.
The esteemed presence of General Kamal Gunaratne (retd), the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and the State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management, as the Chief Guest during the finals, added prestige to the championship.
BASL President Dian Gomes made a significant announcement that this would be his last National Championship as the head of Sri Lanka Boxing. Expressing pride in the progress Sri Lanka Boxing has made under his leadership, he said it was a great honour to have the country’s Defence Secretary as the chief guest at the Nationals for the first time.
Gomes commended the multitude of Referees and Judges hailing from Sri Lanka at international level and was confident in passing the baton to a young team led by Wasantha Withanage Kumara.
Highlighting the growth of Sri Lanka boxing, Gomes credited the contribution of International Technical Officials and BASL Vice Presidents Wasantha Kumara and Lt. Col. Hemantha Weerasinghe (retd.), who played crucial roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the event amid much fanfare.
The BASL president acknowledged the resurgence of boxing in schools such as Ananda, Nalanda, Trinity, and S. Thomas’ College underscoring the talent from various regions. He urged the Armed Forces and Police to continue investing in boxing.
Army dominated the 96th National Boxing Championships, securing major awards, including the coveted Sir William Manning Challenge Trophy for the Best Boxer (men). They clinched nine gold medals out of 13 weight classes in the men’s competition, further solidifying their position in the sport.
Having won five gold medals at the Layton Cup and nine gold medals at the Clifford Cup tournaments, they retained the Muttiah Xavier Memorial Challenge Cup awarded to Most Successful Men Club of 2023.
K.G. Chamil Pathmasiri who outpointed Navy’s W.M.G.K.G.I. Ariyarathna in the Middle weight (under 75kg) final provided the icing on the cake for Army when he was adjudged the Best Boxer of the meet.
Intermediates Best Boxer D.H. Tisaraarachchi of Back2Fit was consoled with the Donald Munasinghe Challenge Trophy Best Loser men award after suffering a split decision in a thrilling duel with Army’s H.M.L.P. Jayawardana in the Minimum (under 48kg) weight class.
Army received the Sgt Selladorai Memorial Challenge Cup for Champion Team at the National Championship winning nine gold and three silver medals followed by Police BC and Navy BC.
Air Force continued their dominance in the women’s competition receiving the Neiva Embuldeniya Challenge Trophy for the champion team at the Nationals winning five gold, one silver and one bronze medal followed by Army BC and Police.
Ishara Thushari Perera of Air Force who out-pointed M.D.P. Manathunga of Army to win the Feather weight (under 57kg) title was adjudged the Best Boxer while Army’s M.G.M.T. Dasunika received the Best Loser’s award after suffering a narrow decision against Air Force’s multiple national champion Sajeewani Cooray in the Light weight (under 60kg) title clash.
List of winners
Men
Minimum Weight (46-48 kg):
Fly Weight (48-51 kg):
Bantam Weight (51-54 kg):
Feather weight (54-57 kg):
Light weight (57-60 kg):
Light Welter Weight (63.5 kg):
Welter Weight (63.5-67 kg):
Light Middle Weight (67-71 kg):
Middle Weight (71-75 kg):
Light Heavy Weight (75-80 kg):
Cruiser Weight (80-86 kg):
Heavy Weight (86-92 kg):
Super Heavy Weight (92+kg):
Womenw
Minimum Weight (45-48 kg):
Light Fly Weight (48-50 kg):
Light Fly Weight (50-52 kg):
Bantam Weight (52-54 kg):
Feather Weight (54-57 kg):
Light Weight (57-60 kg)
Light Welter Weight (60-63 kg):
Welter Weight (63-66 kg):
Light Middle Weight (66-70 kg):
Middle Weight (70-75 kg):
Light Heavy Weight (75-81 kg):
Heavy Weight (81+ kg):
