Sri Lanka’s young boxers clinch five medals in Malaysian meet

Sri Lanka’s rising boxing talents shone brightly at the 34th Penang Pesta International Boxing Tournament in Malaysia, bagging an impressive collection of five medals. Among 16 competing teams, Sri Lanka secured the third spot in the medal standings. The skilled Under-20 Boxing Team, comprised of six members, showcased immense potential and skills during the five-day event that concluded on Friday, marking a historic moment for Sri Lanka’s boxing community as the country debuted in this novice tournament, leaving a lasting impression.

Despite having only six youth boxers, Sri Lanka managed to secure a remarkable medal haul, including one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. The tournament featured a total of 65 boxers from 16 teams on Penang island.

Umayangana Mihiran, the team captain and an experienced participant in international boxing, clinched a gold medal in the men’s flyweight (51kg) category. Mihiran, a former Vidyarathana University College and Nalanda College boxer, now a 20-year-old student at Sri Jayewardenepura University, displayed great promise for the future of Sri Lankan boxing. In the welterweight (63.5kg) category, Heshan Jayasinghe from St Sylvester’s College and lightweight (60kg) contender Yasindu Premaratne from S Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia fought valiantly to secure two silver medals in their respective weight classes. Jayasinghe notably became the first Sri Lankan to compete in this higher weight class in many years, marking his debut in international tournaments.

Waruna Bandara and Salmaan Faris, both students of Trinity College, brought home two bronze medals. Bandara competed in the bantamweight (54kg) class, while Faris participated in the men’s minimum weight (48kg) event.

The tournament, featuring 11 weight categories, drew participation from 16 teams, including Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Indonesia, and Nepal. Sri Lanka created history by sending a six-member elite Under-20 National squad to compete in this South Asian/South East Asian championship.

Jamitha Bandara, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Schools Boxing Association, expressed pride in the team’s achievements, highlighting the significance of junior boxers’ first-time participation in an international championship. Bandara emphasized the invaluable experience gained by the young athletes and expressed hopes of continuing this tradition in future tournaments.

Bandara also acknowledged the support from the Sri Lanka School Boxing Association, the Ministry of Education, parents, and the National Boxing Federation led by President Dian Gomes, Vice Presidents Wasantha Kumara and Col Hemantha Weerasinghe, as well as General Secretary Abdullah Ibunu. The coaches played a crucial role in guiding the players and managing their performance throughout the competition.

In a noteworthy occasion, a dedicated team of young coaches, including Jamitha Bandara, Asanka Rajapaksha, and Lahiru Senaratne, played a pivotal role alongside Senior Coach Bandula Gamage in elevating these players to their current impressive standard.

Beyond their coaching duties, Jamitha Bandara emerged as a key figure in facilitating the players’ participation in this tournament. As the School Boxing Association Secretary, he took on the responsibility of coordinating with the Education Ministry, leading the proceedings and ensuring the team’s seamless involvement in the event.

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