Dheerananda MV, Pilimathalawa emerge Junior National boxing champions
Dheerananda MV, Pilimathalawa carried away the Phelps memorial challenge shield after emerging champions in the Junior Nationals 2019 conducted by the Schools Boxing Association at Narandeniya Boxing Hall, Kamburupitiya.
They won three gold medals and also produced the Best Boxer of the meet, Chethiya Ekanayake who was also the Best Boxer at last year’s Stubbs Shield meet.
Narandeniya Boxing Club emerged champions in the women’s category winning three gold medals and a silver. Krishna Vaani of Vidyananda National School from Mullaitivu was adjudged the Best Boxer after winning a split decision against Narandeniya BC’s Sandeepani in the Light Fly weight final.
The School Boy and Girls and Ju n i o r B oy s a n d G i rl s Championship 2019 was held concurrently with the Junior Nationals attracting over 350 entries from over 40 schools.
Sri Sumangala College, Kandy southpaw Y. M. Usaith, a Youth international, suffered a reversal at the hands of Mahanama’s Dimash Sankalpa de Silva in the Junior championships. Dimash earned a unanimous decision in the Feather weight final against Usaith who created history at the ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships held in Fujairah when he defeated Malaysia’s Pavithran Kanth in a preliminary round contest.
Trinity’s most promising boxer Attaab Manzil who wowed boxing fans in the opening rounds of the Junior Championships with crisp four- punch combinations which was a rarity, met his Waterloo in the Light Fly weight final against Vidyartha A.G.D.N. Kumarathunga who craftily boxed in the long range and landed counter punches, to outpoint his rival who clinched a silver medal at the ‘ King of the Ring’ tournament in Sweden. Kumarathunga was adjudged the Best Boxer for his performance. However, Trinity clinched the championship having two gold medallists in Waruna Bandara and Thejana Bandaranayake in addition to two silver medals and one bronze.
Shanaka Shehan Senarath of Koraburuwana National School, Kamburupitiya also clinched the clinched the gold medal in the Bantam weight class with an impressive win against Trinity’s stylish boxer Hamdan Faizal who ran out of steam against his power punching opponent.
Sachini Fe r n a n d o of Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda coached by Shehani Illangaratne, who represented Sri Lanka at the Junior World Championship in 2015, won a historic gold medal on their debut in the Junior Girls Championship which was won by Narandeniya Boxing Club who won six gold medals. However, Kaveesha Devindi of Siri Piyaratne Central College, Horana carried away the Best Boxer’s award.
Koraburuwana National School coached by Akila Rajapaksha created history in the School Girls Championships when they emerged champions outdoing the boys who were boxing in the colours of Gandhara Boxing Club, by winning four gold and two silver medals. Thiruganasampanthar MV, Jaffna emerged runner-up bagging three gold, one silver and one bronze medal while Narandeniya Boxing Club finished in third position clinching three gold and one two bronze medals. Feather weight winner Nimthera who gave an impressive performance against
Ashinshani of Don Pedric College, Padukka also carried away the Best Boxer ’s t r o p h y. Thiruganasampanthar MV’s Janupriya who lost a closely contested Light Bantam weight contest a g a i n s t Ko r a bur u w a n a ’ s Madurangi was consoled with the Best Loser’s award.
Madabawitage Tehan Sanchith Rayman of Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda was adjudged the Best Boxer after outclassing his rivals in the Light Middle weight class sealing it with a first- round stoppage of Peradeniya MMV’s Ranasingha in the final. Liyanaratne of Ghandara BC was picked as the Best Loser for his gutsy performance against Vidyartha’s Priyashan in the Light weight contest. Gandhara BC won the School Boy Championship winning three gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
Mahanama twins Senula Dulaj Weerasinghe and Senuka Dulran Weerasinghe who represented Sri Lanka at the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships held in Kuwait City gave classy performances to win gold medals in the School Boys Championship which was won by Gandhara BC. Dulaj earned a unanimous decision against Peradeniya MMV’s Piyathilaka in the Light Bantam weight class while Dulran won a split decision against Shaheed of St. Sylvester’s College.