Priyadarshani shocked her rivals with her strength in the Sri Lankan Youth National Championships

The Sri Lankan Youth National Championships was held in their capital city in Colombo after their Youth National Trials and the Stubbs Shields Championships. Sri Lanka’s best woman youth boxer Henayale Gedara Eranga Priyadarshani and their top male talent in this age group Lasindu Eranda Kuda Vithanage both dominated their contests in Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s ITO and experienced official Mr. Hemantha Weerasinghe was the Chief Guest of the Sri Lankan Youth National Championships. The President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka Mr. Dian Gomes has got great strategic plans until 2024 and the country has been sending their boxers to several events worldwide.
Sri Lanka competed in the AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships which was held in Guwahati, India where two of their young girls competed and increased their international experiences. The Sri Lankan male boxers took part in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok.
Altogether 44 female boxers attended in the Sri Lankan Youth National Championships in Colombo. Their women’s youth No.1 is a light flyweight (48kg) talent Henayale Gedara Eranga Priyadarshani, who attended in the AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships and also in the Commonwealth Youth Games, stopped all of their opponents in the first round quickly.
Sri Lanka’s another female youth boxer who competed at the AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships was Kumara Watthe Imesha Sewwandi at the flyweight (51kg). The 18-year-old amazon had stronger opponents in Colombo but she was able to beat M.W.D.K. Ranaweera in the final. K.A.D. Hilmanshi and W.G.C. Jayamali both won their finals closely in the women part of the Sri Lankan Youth National Championships.
In the male part of the Sri Lankan Youth National Championships 110 boxers competed for the medals and prizes in Colombo which is more than in the recent years. S.M.K.S. Bandara claimed silver medal in their Youth National Trials and gold in the Stubbs Shields Championships therefore he was named as the favourite at the light flyweight (49kg). The 18-year-old boxer controlled his final against P.M.S.R.S. Senanayake and realized his golden chances in Colombo.
Lasindu Eranda Kuda Vithanage is Sri Lanka’s best youth boxer who competed in the last two editions of the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar and also in Bangkok. The 18-year-old flyweight (52kg) talent was in different level than his opponents including G.J.K.R.J. Kumara in the final of the event.
K.C. Piyasinghe shocked ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships and titleholder Podi Arachchige Rukmal Prasanna in the semi-final of the bantamweight (56kg) but he was not able to win the final in Colombo. The 17-year-old Piyasinghe lost to R.M.S. De Silva in the title contest following his sensational wins in the last four.
K.D. Jayalath won the Sri Lankan Youth National Trials at the lightweight (60kg) earlier this year but surprisingly he was defeated by newcomer R.N.S.B. Ranathunga in the final of the Youth National Championships. The final verdict was split decision to R.N.S.B. Ranathunga who reached his career highlight with that title.
ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships competitor Weerasekara Mudiyanselage Dhananjaya Jayarathne lost his semi-final to Vimukthi Kavishan at the welterweight (69kg) but the title in that category finally was captured by V. Samarasinghe who used his longer hands to win the final. Samarasinghe was patient and waited for the best attacking moments during their gold medal bout and celebrated his title after the last gong.

List of the winners in the Sri Lankan Youth National Championships
Women’s Youth 48kg: Henayale Gedara Eranga Priyadarshani
Women’s Youth 51kg: Kumara Watthe Imesha Sewwandi
Women’s Youth 54kg: K.A.D. Hilmanshi
Women’s Youth 57kg: G.R.B.H. Weerasinghe
Women’s Youth 60kg: W.G.C. Jayamali
Women’s Youth 64kg: I.M.N.G.M. Kumari
Women’s Youth 69kg: S.D. Mohotti
Women’s Youth +81kg: M.H.M. Kaumini
Men’s 49kg: S.M.K.S. Bandara
Men’s 52kg: Lasindu Eranda Kuda Vithanage
Men’s Youth 56kg: R.M.S. De Silva
Men’s Youth 60kg: R.N.S.B. Ranathunga
Men’s Youth 64kg: R.A.D. Madushanka
Men’s Youth 69kg: V. Samarasinghe
Men’s Youth 75kg: T.G.I.P.S. Thilakarathne
Men’s Youth 81kg: A.S. Jayasekara
Men’s Youth 91kg: G. Rodrigo
Men’s Youth +91kg: H.A.S. Hettiarachchi