Luck helps Pushpakumari bag bronze at Asian Boxing Championships

Pushpakumari won the bronze by virtue of her presence in the semi-final. She was eliminated by two-time world champion Nazym Kyzaibay.

Luck helped Nadeeka Pushpakumari bag a bronze medal at the Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championship held in Dubai as the draw secured her a bye in the quarter-final of the women’s fly weight (51kg) category.

With only six participating in the fly weight (51kg) category the draw was crucial in deciding the bronze medallists. You need to secure a semi-final berth to win a bronze.

The Asian Women Boxing Championships was inaugurated in 2001 and since 2019 been amalgamated with the Asian Men Championships. So far Sri Lankan women boxers have won seven bronze medals at these championships.

The last bronze medal was won by Shiromalie Weeraratne at the 2012 Asian Championship held in Mongolia; fighting in the light welter weight.

The country was represented by four men and three women at the Asian event held from May 24 to 31. Sri Lanka did not register a single victory at this championship.

Pushpakumari won the bronze by virtue of her presence in the semi-final. She was eliminated by two-time world champion Nazym Kyzaibay. Kyzaibay went onto win the championship defeating six-time world champion Mary Kom of India in the final.

Pushpakumari also won a bronze medal at the South Asian Games held in Nepal in 2019.

Rasmika Illangarathna, who fought in the light flyweight was not so lucky despite only five boxers taking part in that weight class. While all other four boxers received byes according to the draw Rashmika was drawn to fight Gulasal Sultonalieva of Uzbekistan in the only quarter-final of that weight class. Sultonalieva went on to win the silver.

Keshani Kasthuriarachchi too was not so lucky despite only six boxers competing in the feather weight category. She was edged out in the quarter-final by eventual champion Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan.

In the men’s category fly weight (11 competitors) quarter-finals, South Asian Silver medallist, Lasindu Eranda was beaten by Saken Bibossynov of Kazakhstan; the bronze medallist of AIBA World Boxing Championships. Kazakhstan boxer won a bronze medal in this weight category.

Rukmal Prasanna fought in the bantam weight (56Kg) quarter-finals after receiving a bye in the preliminary round. He was beaten by a young but experienced Junmilardo Ogayre of Philippines.

Sajeeva Nuwan Kumara (light fly – 9 boxers) and Jeewantha Wimukthi Kumara (light weight 13 boxers) also could not record victories.

Kazakhstan led the women’s medal tally in the championships by winning eight gold medals while Uzbekistan and India won one gold each. In the men’s category, Uzbekistan grabbed six gold medals out of 10 weight categories. Mongolia won three golds, while India clinched one gold medal.

The crucial Asian event was relocated from New Delhi, India to Dubai, United Arab Emirates due to the Covid 19 situation in India.