Vidyartha Retain Junior National Boxing Title
ABA JUNIOR NATIONAL BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP
Vidyartha College Kandy emerged champions at the Junior National Boxing championship held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium to retain the title for the second successive year. Defending champions Vidyartha came out on top with 29 points while two other teams in the Kandy district St Sylvester’s and Kingswood took the second and third positions.
In a championship that was dominated by the outstation schools saw Bandaranayake MV Veyangoda clinching the women’s title with 17 points while Linea BC came in second with three teams Vidyarathana, MAS Southern BC and St Anthony’s Girls School Panadura sharing the third place.
Dharmaraja College Kandy produced the best boxer in the men’s category through A.S. Thuduwewaththa while N.A.T. Jayatissa of the champion Bandaranayake MV team adjudged the best boxer in the women’s category. Vidyartha’s H.A.D. Hettiarachchi and R.I. Jayaratne of Linea won the best losers awards in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.
The meet was organized by the Amateur Boxing Association in association with the Sri Lanka Schools Boxing Association with the aim of promoting boxing around the island to encourage young pugilists and give them an opportunity to reach greater heights at national level.
The championship turned out to be a great success as there was keen interest shown by the outstation boxers as the participation was more than what we expected an official of the ABA said. The chief guest at the closing ceremony was Julio Santana the Cuban national boxing coach of Sri Lanka who gave away the awards. Results: Mens - Light Flyweight Under 49kg - B.G.R. Warnasooriya (Vidyartha BC) beat D.R.S. Jayawardena (Vidyaratha BC). Flyweight Under 52kg - K.A.A. Madushanka (MAS Silueta BC) beat H.A.D. Hettiarachchi (Vidyartha). Bantamweight Under 56kg - H.G.R. Gunasena (Sivalee MMV) beat B.P.D. Kumara (St. Sylvester's BC). Light Weight Under 60kg - A.S. Thuduwewatte (Dharmaraja) beat N.A.S. Napagoda (Bandaranayake MV Veyangoda).Light Welterweight Under 64kg - H.M.S. Medawaththa (St. Sylvester's) beat P.S.K. Kumarathunga (Pilimathalawa CC). Welterweight Under 69kg - W.A.T. Sanjaya (Bandaranayake MV, Veyangoda) beat M.R.M. Nifraz (Zahira). Middleweight Under 75kg - G.D.A. Gunasekara (Kingswood) beat R.M.H. Perera (Pilimathalawa CC). Light Heavyweight Under 81kg - A.G.R. Gunarathna (Vidyartha BC) beat B.P.C. Rath- nayake (Mayurapada MV, Mawenella).Heavyweight Under 91kg - P.G.S. Rasminda (Kingswood,) beat B.M.T. Dassanayake (Vidyartha BC). Super Heavyweight Over 91kg - R.W.M. Rathnadiwakara (Vidyartha BC) beat N.M. Sideek (Kingswood).
Women's - Light Flyweight Under 48kg - N.A.T. Jayatissa (Bandaranayake MV, Veyangoda) beat H.N.K. Gamage (Vidyaratha). Bantamweight Under 54kg -E.A.H. Menike (Bandaranayake MV, Veyangoda) beat P.G.D.B. Wicramanayake (Pilimathalawa CC). Flyweight Under 51kg - K.W.N. Fernando (Linea BC) beat S.S.D. Weerawardana (Pilimathalawa CC). Bantamweight Under 57kg - M.L.N. Seuwandi (Bandaranayake MV, Veyangoda) beat R.I. Jayarathna (Linea BC). Lightweight Under 60kg - W.D.K. Lalani (MAS Southern) beat A.R. Perera (St.Anthony's GS, Panadura). Light Welterweight Under 64kg - K.P.M. Kumuduni (Vidyarathana BC) beat W.A.D. Dilmi (St.Anthony's GS, Panadura). Welterweight Under 69kg - H.U.M. Fernando (Silueta) beat G.A.N. Nadeeshani (St.Anthony's GS, Panadura). Middleweight Under 75kg - P.U.D.Fernando (St. Anthony's GS, Panadura) beat D.A.G. Wijerathna (Pilimathalawa CC). Light Heavyweight Under 81kg - W.K.S. Kulasooriya (Mawathagama NS) beat W.W.G. Kumari (Pilimathalawa CC). Super Heavyweight Over 81kg -R.P.M. Rajapaksha (Linea BC) beat P.I.A. Perera (St. Anthony's GS, Panadura).