Mihiran, Malshani adjudged best boxers at Nationals

Umayanga Mihiran of Vidyarathane Sports Club, Horana and L.I.N. Malshani of Air Force were adjudged the most scientific boxers at the National Boxing Championships concluded at Royal MAS Arena on Friday. Both Mihiran and Malshani won their maiden national titles.

Mihiran, 19, gave a flawless performance easily outpointing Army’s Raveendranath in a thrilling flyweight (under 51kg) final. He oozed class and confidence winning all his fights comprehensively with a superb exhibition of boxing skills. He received the coveted Sir William Manning Challenge Trophy for the Best boxer of the Nationals. Mihiran represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Junior and Asian Youth Championships held in UAE in 2019 and 2021 respectively. AMTS Adikhari of Navy was adjudged Best Loser (men) receiving the Donald Moonesinghe Challenge Trophy.

Malshani displayed superb technique and punching skills to outpoint Army’s MGMT Dasunika in the Flyweight (under 52kg) contest. Malshani won the bronze medal at the Asian under 22 Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan.

NS Wellappili of Police was declared the Best Loser (women) after giving a plucky display against three-time National champion Nadeesha Pushpakumari of Vidyarathena in the minimum weight (under 48kg) contest.

Army received the Sgt Selladorai Challenge Cup for the most successful men’s team at Nationals winning nine golds, a silver and bronze. Rukmal Prasanna was their most impressive winner, outpointing Navy’s MGPKP Dayarathna in the featherweight (under 57kg) contest. He received the Eddie Gray Cup for the most outstanding men’s boxer of the year.

Air Force received the Nieva Embuldeniya Challenge trophy for the champion women’s team winning three golds, two silver and a bronze medal. The Dian Gomes Challenge Cup for the most outstanding woman boxer went to Air Force’s M.P.S.S. Cooray.

The final day of the 95th Nationals Boxing Championship was graced by Dian Gomes the Board Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) saw the completion of 24 men and women bouts with the participation of 117 men and 40 women boxers from 20 clubs.

Final results

Men’s

Minimum weight (46-48kg):

HMLP Jayawardana (SLA) beat KASK Abeygunawardana (SLAR) WO

Fly weight (48-51kg):

GPU Mihiran (VUC) beat TKGK Raveendranath (SLAA) WP 5:0

Bantam weight (51-54kg):

RMP Dharmasena (SLA) beat HI Chamara (SLAR) WO

Featherweight (54-57kg): PAR Prasanna (SLA) beat MGPKP Dayarathna (SLN) WP 4:1

Light weight (57-60kg):

RPMPKK Rasnayaka (SLA) beat WRT Weerakkodi (SLAR) WO

Light Welter weight (63.5kg):

HMKC Ekanayaka (SLP) beat LSR Nayananda (SLA) WP 5:0

Welterweight (63-67kg):

TSPS Fernando (SLA) beat IPKL Ilangarathna (SLP) WP 4:1

Light Middleweight (67-71kg):

PMLL Chandra Bandara (SLA) beat DMG Dilshan (St John’s College, Nugegoda BC) WP 4:1

Middleweight (71-75kg):

WMGKGI Ariyarathna (SLN) beat WGNC Wijeynaga (SLAF) WP 5:0

Light Heavyweight (75-80kg):

HWGP Rathnasiri (SLP) beat WAMP Wariyapperuma (SLA) 5:0

Cruiserweight (80-86kg):

YSP Sudamma (SLA) beat HMPM Silva (SLAF) KO R1

Heavyweight (86-92kg):

PARS Rupasinghe (SLA) beat KMCK Karunanayake (SLN) WP 4:1

Super Heavyweight (92+kg):

UAW Avishka (SLA) beat ADRM Abeysinghe (SLAB) WO

Women’s

Minimum weight (45-48kg):

RAN Pushpakumari (VUCW) beat NS Wellappili (SLPW) WP 5:0

Light Flyweight (48-50kg):

HS Priyadarshani (SLA) beat PM Widanagamage (SLPW) WP 5:0

Flyweight (50-52kg):

LIN Malshani (SLAFW) beat MGMT Dasunika (SLAW) WP 5:0

Bantam weight (52-54kg):

KKIT Perera (SLAFW) beat GMMA Gunathilaka (SLPW) WP 5:0

Feather weight (54-57kg):

KAK Hansika (VUCW) beat GWGC Tharuka (SLPW) RSC R1

Lightweight (57-60kg):

MPSS Cooray (SLAFW) beat ENL Udayakumara (SLPW) RSC R1

Light Welterweight (60-63kg):

BRD Mendis (SLAW) beat WWAK Thiwanka (SLAFW) WP3:2

Light Middleweight (66-70kg):

GDL Sadekelum (SLPW) beat BLS Sadareka (Narandeniya BC)

Middle weight (70-75kg):

BS Heshani (VUCW) beat RPD Rajapaksa (SLPW) RSC R3

Light Heavyweight (75-81kg):

WS Sewwandi (SLPW) beat KAGN Kaluarachchi (SLAFW) WP3:2

Heavyweight (81+kg):

MMH Kawmini (Narandeniya BC) beat PDI Sewwandi (SLPW) WP 5:0