Sri Lanka’s traditional Clifford Cup saw 20 champions

Twenty champions have been crowned in the Clifford Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka which is a traditional event in the South Asian country. The national level competition was held for the women’s and men’s elite boxers in the capital city of the developing boxing country in the Royal MAS Arena.
A veteran Sri Lankan sportsman Mr. L.V. Douglas was the special guest of the tournament who began his boxing career in 1954 as schoolboy athlete and won the Sri Lankan National Championships five-times. He boxed also in the international level in Pakistan in 1964 and in India in 1966.
The Sri Lankan female boxers attended in the ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu, China one year ago and also at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan this May. Sri Lanka’s best men boxers competed also in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok, in the South Asian Games in Shillong and also in the AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event in Qian’an.
Kosala Nilmini is Sri Lanka’s best Women’s Light Flyweight class (48kg) boxer who will be replaced their veteran star Anusha Kodituwakku in the national squad. She competed also already in the international level and her efforts were enough to beat Air Force’s G.Y.G.M. Dishani in the final of the Clifford Cup.
Dulani Anuradha Jayasinghe is also member of the national team who competed in the 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. She began her boxing career in six years ago and had enough experiences to beat all of her rivals in the Women’s Flyweight class (51kg) which is an Olympic one.
Muthuthanthri Sajeewani Cooray was involved to the Sri Lankan national team in 2014 and boxed also out of the country last year. The 26-year-old Sri Lankan National Champion controlled her final contest against T.N.S. Thalgaspitiya and won the final of the Bantamweight class (54kg) unanimously.
Kasthuri Keshani Hansika moved up to the Olympic Lightweight class (60kg) this year following her national successes at the Featherweight class (57kg). The 25-year-old boxer used up all of her experiences to beat S.B.A. Sadamali in the final of the Clifford Cup which meant she achieved another title in a home event.
South Asian Games silver medallist Nilanthi Andaraweera Arachchige competed for Sri Lanka in the main international events in 2016 but she was defeated by P.K. Sumudu in the semi-final of the Women’s Middleweight class (75kg). Sumudu was too strong for A.M.P. Athapaththu also in the final and claimed her title in the Clifford Cup.
Sri Lanka’s veteran female boxer Dapana Durage Shiromala Weerarathna was bronze medallist at the 2012 ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar. Since her great medal she moved up to the Light Heavyweight class (81kg) and as expected she won the category in the Clifford Cup.
South Asian Games bronze medallist 24-year-old Thiwanka Sandaruwan Ranasinghe Muturanwellige was one of the main favourite for the title in the Clifford Cup at the Light Flyweight class (49kg). After his great road to the final he could not repeat the previous performance and he was defeated by Sri Lankan National Champion A.M.G.I. Bandara.
Gadra Roshan Indika Warnasuriya began boxing in 2007 and after two National titles the 23-year-old hope was able to beat all of his rivals in the Clifford Cup. Warnasuriya had to do his very best to beat South Asian Games bronze medallist Seneviratne Bandara but due his great final round he was able to catch his opponent and win the gold at the Flyweight class (52kg).
World Military Championships bronze medallist Dilanka Suresh Pattiarachchi has been boxing in the international level since 2009 and had more than 120 contests during his career therefore his success in the Clifford Cup was not a surprise. The 30-year-old boxer moved up to the Bantamweight class (56kg) and did not give any chance to A.K. Maduranga in the final of the tournament.
President’s Cup bronze medallist Naiduralage Gayan Sanjeeva Jayaweera is one of the best Sri Lankan man boxer who was in different level than his opponents at the Lightweight class (60kg). The next strong performance was delivered by Dinidu Dushan Saparamadu who claimed silver medal at the South Asian Games in February and Slimline’s pride dominated his contests in the Clifford Cup.
Ruwangala Gedara Sisira Kumarasinghe boxed in the AIBA World Boxing Championships, in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships, South Asian Games and World Military Games as well therefore he is the most experienced Sri Lankan boxer. The 31-year-old Welterweight class (69kg) boxer was too quick for Commonwealth Games competitor Pathirage Don Maduranga and achieved the title in the Clifford Cup.
Gedara Tharindu Roshan Madusanka competed well enough at the Welterweight class (69kg) and at the Middleweight class (75kg) in the recent years but he decided to move up to the Light Heavyweight category (81kg) this year. The 24-year-old former Clifford Cup winner controlled all of his contests while veteran Gallage Ajith Nevil Fernando also won his new weight class in the Clifford Cup.

Winners in the Clifford Cup
Women’s 48kg: Kosala Nilmini
Women’s 51kg: Dulani Anuradha Jayasinghe
Women’s 54kg: Muthuthanthri Sajeewani Cooray
Women’s 57kg: K.A.D. Dharmatilake
Women’s 60kg: Kasthuri Keshani Hansika
Women’s 64kg: H.M.K.G.L. Udyangani
Women’s 69kg: P.C.K. Jayasekara
Women’s 75kg: P.K. Sumudu
Women’s 81kg: Dapana Durage Shiromala Weerarathna
Women’s +81kg: J.A.S.I. Jayasinghe
Men’s 49kg: A.M.G.I. Bandara
Men’s 52kg: Gadra Roshan Indika Warnasuriya
Men’s 56kg: Dilanka Suresh Pattiarachchi
Men’s 60kg: Naiduralage Gayan Sanjeeva Jayaweera
Men’s 64kg: Dinidu Dushan Saparamadu
Men’s 69kg: Ruwangala Gedara Sisira Kumarasinghe
Men’s 75kg: D.L.P.R. Kumara
Men’s 81kg: Gedara Tharindu Roshan Madusanka
Men’s 91kg: Gallage Ajith Nevil Fernando
Men’s +91kg: A.R.B. Thilakarathne