Umayanga Mihiran is Sri Lanka’s first Asian elite male medallist since 1987

Umayanga Mihiran eliminated his top Malaysian opponent on the seventh competition day at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand and he became Sri Lanka’s first elite male medallist since the 1987 Kuwait City edition.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, host Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are the 21 participating nations in the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.

Uzbekistan’s Shodiyorjon Melikuziev eliminated Thailand’s Nathapong Thuamcharoen in the preliminary stage of the men’s minimumweight (48kg) and he started well the first round against Ukraine’s Andrii Yefymovych. The 22-year-old Uzbek increased his tempo in the second and after the standing counts, the Egyptian referee stopped their quarter-final bout which opened the seventh competition day.

Philippines’ 19-year-old Jay Bryan Baricuatro was a new sensation at the annual ASBC Asian U22 Boxing Championships in Astana and he received the right to participate in Chiang Mai as well. The Filipino teenager tried to catch Nepal’s quick Lal Prasad Upreti in the first round but he was not enough successful on that. Baricuatro stepped into the gas in the second and his strength was the decisive between them today therefore the Philippines achieved a medal in the smallest weight class once again.

Kazakhstan’s Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and World Champion Saken Bibossynov faced Uzbekistan’s Asian U22 Champion Asilbek Jalilov in the first quarter-final of the men’s flyweight (51kg). The younger Uzbek used the best tactics against the Kazakh star in the first round and three out of the five judges favoured him. Bibossynov moved forward more in the second and third rounds but Jalilov looked fresh and motivated to win this crucial world class bout in Chiang Mai.

Sri Lanka’s best boxer, Umayanga Mihiran is only 21-year-old but he almost qualified for the Paris Olympic Games. The Sri Lankan flyweight (51kg) boxer faced Malaysia’s No.1, the Asian U22 medallist Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum Bin Ariffin for the medal and he started well enough to accomplish his dreams. Mihiran worked from longer distance again as in his previous events and the Sri Lankan earned a historic medal in Chiang Mai.

Nepal’s Laxman Rai shocked Chinese Taipei’s tall Hsu Po Hao in the first seconds and the referee counted the younger Hsu. The boxer from Chinese Taipei returned to the bout with better long-distance jabs after that moment and he turned back their flyweight (51kg) quarter-final. Philippines’ Marvin Tabamo used his routine to eliminate China’s 22-year-old Wang Xiangkun and he claimed his first Asian medal during his career.

Sri Lanka’s Jayanath Kumara surprised Kazakhstan’s World Champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan in the first round with his great footwork but the Central Asian star caught him with heavy body punches in the second and the referee stopped the bout. The Kazakh bantamweight (54kg) boxer will now meet in the semi-final Thailand’s Sarawut Sukthet who controlled his technician bout against Philippines’ Asian U22 medallist Flint Jara.

Philippines’ Mark Ashley Fajardo will be 20 only later this month but he is famous of his extreme punching power and he knocked out many of his rivals in the recent competitions. The Filipino opened the first round with two powerful jabs but his opponent, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu survived these moments. Fajardo, the new light welterweight (63.5kg) sensation, continued in the same way during the second round and the Tunisian referee confirmed his RSC success.

Thailand’s speedy Somchay Wongsuwan has 10 years of experience in the international events and he used the right tactics against Kazakhstan’s Paris Olympian Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu in the next light welterweight (63.5kg) bout. The 28-year-old Thai was a hard target for the younger Kazakh and his counter-attacking style of boxing decided their quarter-final bout in Chiang Mai.

Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian U22 silver medallist Mirzokhid Imamnazarov tried to reduce the fighting distance against Ukraine’s European Junior Champion Danylo Dryzhak in the first round of their quarter-final. Imamnazarov responded to all of the Ukrainian actions with heavy punches therefore everything was open before the last round. The 23-year-old Kyrgyz light welterweight (63.5kg) boxer stepped into the gas in the third and he claimed his nation’s second medal in North Thailand.

Kyrgyzstan’s next boxer in action was their three-time Asian medallist Erkin Adylbek Uulu who had a great first round against the similar tall Uzbek opponent, Jasurbek Yuldashev in the first bout at the cruiserweight (86kg). The 12-years-younger Yuldashev tried to keep the control in the second round but the Rio Olympian Kyrgyz veteran was not an easy rival for him. Adylbek Uulu finished the last round with strong hooks but Yuldashev won their meeting by bout review.

Kazakhstan’s Asian Games bronze medallist Sagyndyk Togambay regained his place at the heavyweight (92kg) and the 23-year-old boxer tried to overcome Uzbekistan’s Madiyar Saydrakhimov in their final level bout today. Togambay was more punctual today than the Belgrade 2021 World bronze medallist Uzbek and the Kazakh eliminated his main rival in the championship.

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