SPP Angelo from St. Sylvester’s BC and RNDP Jayathissa from Uphill BC were crowned as the Best Boxers at the Novices Boxing Tournament, hosted at the prestigious Royal MAS Arena in Colombo. This event, organized by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), showcased the talents of 186 boxers from 27 different clubs.
The final day of the tournament was graced by the presence of Rohan de Silva, Group Director of McLarens Group of Companies and President of Sri Lanka Badminton, who served as the chief guest. Alongside BASL President Dian Gomes, de Silva presented the special awards to the deserving winners. The five-day competition was marked by intense and fast-paced matches, setting the stage for an exciting new season.
Angelo and Nirushika Jayathissa, both 19 years old, were hailed for their exceptional technique and ringcraft, earning them the coveted titles of Best Boxers in their respective categories. Angelo, a two-time Stubbs Shield silver medallist, displayed remarkable skill by effortlessly winning all of his bouts. His standout performance came in the featherweight (under 57kg) final, where he delivered a perfectly timed right hook to knock out Chandrapala from the Air Force in the final round.
Nirushika, representing Uphill BC and a gold medallist at the Youth Championships 2023, impressed the judges despite having only one year of boxing experience. She outperformed the seasoned soldier Virajini in the featherweight (under 57kg) category, securing a unanimous decision victory.
In a groundbreaking move for Sri Lankan boxing, cash prizes were awarded to the Best Boxers in both the men’s and women’s divisions, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s history.
The tournament also acknowledged other outstanding performances. Army’s Adhikari received the Best Loser’s award after a closely contested 3:2 decision loss in the welterweight (under 67kg) bout against MM Paris of St. Sylvester’s BC.In the women’s category, 19-year-old Sanduni Imesha of Air Force, a product of Naradeniya CC, Kamburupitiya, and a gold medallist at the Youth Girls meet, was named Best Loser for her valiant effort in the light flyweight (under 50kg) final against Devindi from Hanwella Rajasinghe BC.
In terms of team achievements, Army Archers (men) and Army (women) topped the medals tally with four golds each. St. Sylvester’s BC secured three gold medals, while Army Red, Army Blue, and other Army teams collectively won ten golds in the 13-weight men’s competition. The Air Force women’s team also performed strongly, finishing second overall with three gold medals.