Surprises in the men’s quarter-finals at the 97th Sri Lankan National Championships
Thirty-six contests were held at the 97th edition of the Sri Lankan National Championships at the ocean-side urban park, called Galle Face Green in Colombo on Day2. The favourites of the women’s weight categories advanced to the next stage of boxing but there were surprises in the men’s quarter-finals.
There are neutral Referees & Judges in the 97th Sri Lankan National Championships from South Korea, Ireland, Indonesia and Kazakhstan to arrange the fair play in the competition.
The Sri Lankan National Championships are organised by the Tri Forces and Police and endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau, promises to be more than just a competition, it is a celebration of sports tourism and a further step to promote boxing in the island.
More than 100 elite boxers are participating in the Sri Lankan National Boxing Championships and the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Police teams could be the bests in the competition.
A.G.H.D. Premasiri won the first contest of the second competition day, she bowed out M.K. Maleesha Muthuni at the women’s minimumweight (48kg), controlling most of the exchanges.
Nishadi Malshani was named as a gold medal contender at the women’s bantamweight (54kg) but she had to do her very best in the last round to eliminate A.G.K.H. Gamage
Keshani Hansika is Sri Lanka’s female boxing icon who returned to the national team in 2024 after a short break. The strong and experienced featherweight (57kg) boxer shocked R.M.S.S. Rathanayaka in the first round and after the counts, the referee stopped their unequal contest confirming Hansika’s RSC triumph.
Muthuthanthri Sajeewani Cooray is a multiple National Champion and she walked over to the next round against N.W.A.S. Imesha at the women’s lightweight (60kg).
Hasitha Jinadasa, the Best Male from the recent Layton Cup, outpointed A.A.N. De Silva in the quarter-finals of the minimumweight (48kg) and he is now a guaranteed medallist. The seeded boxers of this weight class, such as D.H. Thisararachchi and H.M.L.P. Jayawardhana both are semi-finalists as well.
The bantamweight (54kg) is always a strong category in Sri Lanka and one of the boxers from the Vidyarathna Sport Club, G.J.K.R.J. Kumara caused a surprise on Day2 when he eliminated the Seed No.1, P.G.E. Madushan in the last eight.
R.M.P.K.K. Rasnayaka defeated W.M.M. Bandara in the next final at the lightweight (60kg) during the Clifford Cup last month but their repeat title contest will not be realized in the National Championships. Rasnayaka marched to the semi-finals but Bandara suffered an unexpected loss to E.W.A. Sadaruwan in their quarter-final meeting.
Air Force’s M.W.M.M. Meegasthenna and Army’s U. Amitha Avishka knew each other very well and the two best super heavyweight (+92kg) boxers managed their victories in the second competition day.
The PEO Sports is the official broadcaster of the 97th Sri Lankan National Boxing Championships as in the last Clifford Cup.
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