Angelo, Nirushika best from the rest

Action in the men’s boxing bout

Action in the women’s boxing bout

 The best boxers and losers of the men’s and women’s categories posing for a picture after receiving their awards with chief guest Rohan de Silva, Group Director of McLarens Group of Companies, Dian Gomes, President of BASL, Hemantha Weerasinghe and Wasantha Withanage, Vice President’s of BASL

By M. Shamil Amit

The Novices Boxing Meet, conducted by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka and sponsored by McLarens Group of Companies, concluded at the Roya MAS Arena boxing ring in Colombo. S.P.P. Angelo of St. Sylvester’s College Kandy and Nirushika Jayatissa of Uphill BC were adjudged the best boxers in the men’s and women’s categories. The tournament saw the participation of 186 boxers from 27 clubs around the island.
Angelo, one of the up-and-coming young pugilists in the country and a two-time Stubbs Shield silver medalist, demonstrated remarkable skill by winning all his bouts with ease. His performance in the featherweight (under 57kg) final was particularly notable, where he knocked out Chandrapala from the Air Force.
Nirushika, representing Uphill BC and a gold medalist at the Youth Championships 2023, impressed the judges despite having only one year of boxing experience. She outpointed seasoned soldier Virajini in the featherweight under 57kg category, winning by unanimous decision.
In terms of team achievements, Army Archers (men) and Army (women) topped the medal tally with four golds each. St. Sylvester’s BC secured three gold medals, while Army Red, Army Blue, and other Army teams collectively won ten golds in the 13-weight men’s competition. The Air Force women’s team also performed strongly, finishing second overall with three gold medals.
The tournament also recognised other notable performances. Army’s Adhikari was awarded the best loser’s award after a close 3:2 decision loss in the welterweight (under 67kg) bout against M.M. Paris of St. Sylvester’s BC, and in the women’s category, 19-year-old Sanduni Imesha of Air Force, a product of Naradeniya CC, Kamburupitiya, and a gold medalist at the Youth Girls meet, was named the best loser for her valiant effort in the light flyweight (under 50kg) final against Devindi from Hanwella Rajasinghe BC.
For the first time in Sri Lankan novices boxing history, cash awards were presented to the best boxers.
Rohan de Silva, Group Director of McLarens Group of Companies and President of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association, was the chief guest, presenting the special awards alongside BASL President Dian Gomes.
Final results: 
Men’s: Minimum Weight (46-48kg): P.K.U. Silva (Army Archers) beat A.A.N. de Silva (West Coast BC). Fly Weight (48-51kg): D,D,M, Sampath (Army Archers) beat S,P,W,G,C, Rathnasiri (Navy Bismark). Bantamweight (51-54kg): S.P.B.R. Premalal (Army Blue) beat K.W.S.M.A. Dasunpriya (Army Archers). Featherweight (54-57kg): S.P.P. Angelo (St. Sylvester’s BC) beat B.M.M. Chandrapala (Air Force). Lightweight (57-60kg): R.M. Pushpakumara (Army Archers) beat H.M.G.C.N. Dissanayake (Army Red). Light Welterweight (60-63.5kg): T.D.D. Upawansha (Army) beat A.G.V.H. Jayasinghe (St. Sylvester’s BC). WelterWeight (63.5-67kg): M.M. Paris (St. Sylvester’s BC) beat AADD Adhikar (Army Red). Light middleweight (67-71kg): A.A.C.S. Kumara (Army Archers) beat V Ratheesh (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC). Middleweight (71-75kg): Y.M. Usaith (St. Sylvester’s BC) beat L.G.M. Bandara (Navy Bismark). Light Heavyweight (75-80kg): H.M.M.M. Herath (Army) beat PA Samarasinghe (Navy Bismark). Cruiser Weight (80-86kg): M.D.K. Silva (Back2Fit) beat J.M.I.P.P. Kumara (Army Red). Heavy Weight (86-92kg): W.P.S.K. Ranasinghe (Army Red) beat R. Deshmikanth (Omega Line). Super HeavyWeight (92+ kg): H.M.C.T. Weerakoon (Army Blue) beat K.G. Pitampe (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC).
Women’s: Minimum Weight (45-48Wkg): A.G.H.D. Premasiri (Air Force) beat E.M.S.C. Chandrasiri (Jayawardenapura University). Light Fly Weight (48-50kg): M.D.K. Devindi (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) beat N.W.A.S. Imesha (Air Force). Fly Weight (50-52kg): D.M.K.T. Dissanayaka (Air Force) beat WAW Nawodya (Sivali BC). Bantam Weight (52-54kg): E.M.K.H. Ekanayaka (Air Force) beat K.A.H.S. Dilshani (Army). Featherweight (54-57kg): R.D.N.P. Jayathissa (Uphill) beat P.H.I. Virajani (SLA). Light Weight (57-60kg): S. Rajkumar (BA) beat SIR Pathiraja (Hemamali BC). Light Welterweight (60-63kg): J.D.N. Rathnasiri (Back2Fit) beat L.D.S. Silva (Army). WelterWeight (63-66kg): P.A.D.R. Sanjana (Navy) beat L.D.D. Vimarshana (Army Red). Light middleweight (66-70kg): J.M.R. Rasanjali (Army) beat U.G.N.H. Jayathissa (University Peradeniya). Middleweight (70-75kg): N.M.M.S. Narasinghe (Army) beat E.M.I. Bandara (Veyangoda BC). Heavy Weight (81+ kg): H.A.D.P. Wathsala (Army) beat M.A.D.D.S. Kulasinghe (Army Blue).