Action from the Stubbs Shield Meet  

By Susil Premalal

Defending champions St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, alongside Royal College, Colombo and Mahanama College, Colombo have emerged as the top contenders at the 105th Stubbs Shield Inter-Schools Boxing Championships, continued at the Royal MAS Arena in Colombo.

Organised as part of the All-Island National School Games by the Education Ministry in collaboration with the Schools Boxing Association, the event features nearly 500 boxers from 132 schools competing across 36 weight classes and three age divisions.

Youth international medalists Aazil Murajudeen of Zahira College, Colombo, Sylvestrian Heshan Jayasinghe and Royalist Thenuwan Meegalla set a high standard in the quarter-finals with knock-out performances.

Murajudeen (Youth Boys’ 60kg), a Taipei City Cup Silver Medallist, showcased his power with a first-round knock-out against W. T. R. Dias of Sumana Saman Vidyalaya, Ratnapura.
Meanwhile, Meegalla (Senior Boys’ 56kg), Royal’s Captain and Taipei Gold Medallist, delivered a stunning second-round stoppage win over W. S. Ranasinghe of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia in a thrilling Royal-Thomian clash.

Sylvestrian Jayasinghe (Senior Boys’ 69kg), a Silver Medallist at the Penang Pesta International Boxing Tournament, won a hard-fought points decision over A. K. D. H. Wijesinghe of Vidyartha College, Kandy.

Royal, with 19 Stubbs Shield titles in their history, advanced further with N. A. Ahmed (Youth Boys 52kg), K. S. M. Perera (Senior Boys’ 81kg) and S. D. Jayasooriya (Senior Boys’ 60kg) reaching the semi-finals.

St. Sylvester’s, champions on a three-year winning streak, maintained their dominance with T. M. R. L. Tennakoon (Youth Boys 56kg), S. G. M. Azhar (Youth Boys 69kg) and K. G. S. K. Heshan (Senior Boys 60kg) advancing.

Mahanama’s title hopes suffered a blow when H. S. Nambuwasam (Youth Boys’ 49kg) was knocked-out in round two by Thomian W. K. H. M. Wijesinghe.

However, boxers R. I. R. Perera (Junior Boys’ 50kg), K. A. V. S. Karavita (Junior Boys’ 54kg) and W. T. L. M. Abeysekera (Junior Boys 46kg) advanced to the semi-finals.

In the Youth Girls’ division, Kalani Herath of Gateway College and T. G. M. S. P. Thiththagalla of Hemamali Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy, delivered standout performances, setting the stage for an exciting finale.