SRI LANKA PUGILISTS END DAY ONE WITH FLYING COLOURS
The first day’s proceedings of the Lion’s Cup International Boxing Tournament held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium saw Sri Lankan pugilists Malith Prabashwara, Gayan Jayaweera, Anuruddha Gunatileke and Damith Wijeratne giving the host side a flying start.
The wins for the foursome representing the Sri Lanka Warriors the second team entered for the tournament by host country Sri Lanka saw them booking a berth to the semi finals.
Prabashwara who fought in the preliminary light flyweight (46-49kgs) was the first of the host boxers to get into the ring which was the third bout of the opening day. Prabashwara began his bout against Tsung Chonchen (Chinese Taipei) on a positive note as he had the better of exchanges; he continued to maintain his form in the next two rounds to come out an easy winner. Jayaweera contesting in the bantamweight (56kgs) on other hand underwent some anxious moments against his Australian opponent Jayden Hansen. Both the boxers shared the honours at the end of the second bout but Jayaweera was given the nod on a split decision decided by the five judges.
Gunatileke contesting in the lightweight (60kgs) bout was the third successive Sri Lankan boxer to advance to the semi final when he came out on top against Malaysia’s Alnazirul Othman in another split decision decided bythejudges.
In another close tussle of the light welterweight (64kgs) bout saw D. Wijeratne brushing aside the challenge put in Australia’s Daniel Heyes to get the judges nod in which turned out to be another close decision.
Earlier in the other bouts that were worked off for the day saw Rogan Ladon (Philippines) and Fuad Redzuan (Malaysia) coming out victorious in the flyweight (46-49kgs). Mario Fernadez (Philipinnes) and Yu-Che Li (Chinese Taipei) in the bantamweight (56kgs), Muhamad Ridhwan Ahmad (Singapore) and Miko Khatchatryan (Belgium) lightweight (60kgs), Khir Azmi (Malaysia) and Dennis Okuth (Kenya) light welter weight (64kgs).
Meanwhile the Sri Lions team led by Anuruddha Ratnayake, Manju Wanniarachchi, P. Saparamadu, M. Dilshan, S. Navaratne and M. Divaratne have all received byes and qualified to the semi finals in their respective bouts.
They will be in action tomorrow along with the four Sri Lanka Warriors pugilists who also advanced to the semi finals having won their bouts on day one. Sri Lanka’s hopefuls in the women’s category will be in action today
he first ever international boxing meet was originally scheduled to be contested by tencountriescomprising Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Belgium, South Korea, Thailand and host Sri Lanka but Kenya was includedasalateentry.
ResultsDayOne: Men
Light Flyweight – (46-49kgs) – RoganLadon(Philippines)beatKornelis KwanguLangu(India),FuadRedzuan (Malaysia) beat Joseph Scaffadi (Australia), Malith Prabashwara (Sri Lanka) beat Tsung Chonchen (Chinese Taipei).
Bantamweight (56kgs) – Mario Fernadez (Philipinnes) beat Benson Gicharu Njangiru (Kenya), Yu-Che Li (Chinese Taipei) beat Benaiah Gabriel Williams (Singapore), Gayan Jaya- weera (Sri Lanka) beat Jayden Hansen(Australia).
Lightweight (60kgs) – Muhamad Ridhwan Ahmad (Singapore) beat John Kariuki Mattai (Kenya), Miko Khatchatryan (Belgium) beat Matthew Linsley (Australia), Anuruddha Gunatileke (Sri Lanka) beat Alnazirul Othman (Malaysia).
Light Welterweight (64kgs) – Khir Azmi (Malaysia) beat Jun Hao Leong (Singapore), Dennis Okuth (Kenya) beat Wei-Jen Chang (Chinese Taipei), Damith Wijeratne (Sri Lanka) beat Daniel Heyes (Australia).
Welterweight (69kgs) – Okwiri Raytow Nduku (Kenya) beat Fano Kori (Australia).
Women:
Flyweight (48-51kgs) – Yu Ting Lin (Chinese Taipei) beat Kim Yeji (South Korea). Sopida Saturum (Thailand) beat Irish Magno (Philipinnes).