MAS SLIMLINE BC EMERGE MEN’S CHAMPS FOR EIGHTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR
MAS Unichela BC Retain Women’s Title
MAS Slimline and MAS Unichela two clusters of MAS Holdings were too good for the rest of the sides as they walked away with the men’s and women’s Clifford Cup title for the second successive year at the 92nd Men & Women Clifford Cup Boxing Championship which concluded at the Royal MAS Arena boxing ring in Reid Avenue over the weekend.
In the men’s category MAS Slimline who are winning the championship for the eighth successive year came out easy winners by bagging five gold medals while Army came in second with three gold medals and Navy taking the third slot with two gold medals.
In the women’s category MAS Unichela from eight qualifiers to the final was way ahead of others bagging seven gold medals and two silver medals as they retained the title for yet another year while Army and Navy were able to secure only gold each.
The cynosure of all eyes was no doubt former Sri Lanka champion Anusha Kodituwakku in women’s flyweight 51kg bout. Anusha a boxer with immense experience was too good for her opponent H.S. Priyadharshani of Army ‘A’ whom she outfoxed with ease. The win saw her being adjudged the best boxer for the second successive year in the women’s category while Priyadharshani was adjudged the best loser.
In the men’s category the champion MAS Slimline team produced the best boxer in N.M. Hettiarachchi who too won the light welterweight 69kg bout with ease against P.D.D. Maduranga of Army ‘A’ who took the best losers’ award.
Retired DIG Sumith Liyanage a former renowned boxer who represented Sri Lanka at various international boxing meets which includes the 1960 Olympics and the recipient of the Caltex sportsman of the year award four decades ago was the chief guest who gave away the awards to the winners.