St. Sylvester’s Boxing Team. Front row: (From left): B. G. D. Piyathilake, T. M. R. L. Thennakoon, T. M. C. L. Thennakoon, S. G. M. Azhar, J. M. T. Deshan, K. G. S. K. Heshan and S. P. P. Angelo. Back row (From left): P. G. C. M. Kumara, S. Nawarathne (St. Sylvester’s Boxing Union), S. Sivaneshan (Master-in-Charge), T. B. J. G. Bandara (Head Coach), A. G. V. H. Jayasinghe, T. Pallekumbura (St. Sylvester’s Boxing Union) and M. Ilham (St. Sylvester’s Boxing Union) 

By Susil Premalal

St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, reinforced their supremacy in schools boxing by clinching the Stubbs Shield for the fourth consecutive year and the 18th time overall in the 105th Inter-Schools Boxing Championships, which concluded at the Royal MAS Arena in Colombo.

The Sylvestrians showcased a formidable performance, capturing four Gold Medals and two Silver Medals in the finals.

Royal College, Colombo claimed the runner-up position with three Gold Medals, three Silver Medals and a Bronze Medal. Thenuwan Meegalla, Royal’s Captain and Taipei City Cup Gold Medallist was awarded the prestigious Col. T. Y. Wright Challenge Cup as the Best Boxer in the Senior Boys’ Division for his technical prowess.

In the Girls’ Division, Siri Perakum Vidyalaya, Kotagala emerged champions with three Gold Medals and one Silver Medal while Sri Pragnaratne Central College, Gelioya earned the runners-up with three Gold Medals and three Bronze Medals.

Chathuni Siriwardena of Hemamali Girls’ College, Kandy, received the Best Boxer award in the Senior Girls’ 48kg category displaying good ring-craft and excellence to outpoint M. K. M. Muthuni of Dharmaloka College, Pelmadulla.

Organised as part of the All-Island National School Games by the Education Ministry and Schools Boxing Association, this year’s event saw nearly 500 boxers from 132 schools competing across 36 weight classes.

With six finalists, two more than Royal, St. Sylvester’s were clear front-runners from the outset.

Key wins included Vidyarathna University College, Horana’s dominance in the Junior Boys’ Division with Golds from Naranayana Dulanga (46kg), Janindu Dhananjaya (48kg) and Nehan Kularathna (54kg).

Royal and St. Sylvester’s began the finals on an inauspicious note when Ahsan Ahmedh (52kg) and T. M. R. L. Thennakoon (56kg) suffered losses in the Youth Boys’ category to Nilusha Thathsara and Deshan Thathsara of Nalanda College, Colombo.

Mohamad Azhar (Youth Boys’ 69kg) won a tough duel against L. D. D. Rashmika of Dombagoda Seelarathana MV by a unanimous points-decision to win the first Gold Medal for St. Sylvester’s.

When the business end of the tournament began with the Senior Boys’ contests, St. Sylvester’s suffered another setback when favourite and Novices Best Boxer S. P. P. Angelo (52kg) was out of sorts against Ryan Weerasekera of Trinity College with his throwing-in-the-towel in the third round.

Weerasekera displayed superb technique and ring-craft unleashing crisp combinations to dominate the contest.

St. Sylvester’s sealed their victory with Sandun Heshan’s unanimous win (60kg) along with impressive performances by Deshan Jayasundara (64kg) and Vimarshana Jayasinghe (69kg), a 2023 youth international Gold Medallist.

Royal’s heavyweights, Malith Bandara (75kg) and Sahan Perera (81kg) secured wins in their divisions, helping Royal secure the second spot.
The Girls’ Division saw standout performances from Northern Province boxers Loganathan Kagenthiny of Poonthottam Vidyalaya, Vavuniya and Zithayakumar Kerthana of Gamini National School, Vavuniya while G. G. N. A. Gimhani of Sri Pragnaratne Central College, Geli Oya scored an upset in the Youth Girls’ category, defeating Punsara Thiththagala of Hemamali Girls’ College.

In the Juniors Girls’ category, M. D. C. S. Mayadunne (50kg) of Prajapathi Girls’ College, Horana was at the receiving end of a contentious points-decision against T. D. I. Madushani of Siri Parakum Vidyalaya, Kotagala.

However, S. M. N. Miloniya (46kg) and U. B. Sonali (48kg) were convincing winners for the school from Nuwara Eliya.