Navy’s Gayan Indika Bandara returned to top gear with a dominant performance against young star Umayanga Mihiran to be adjudged the Best Boxer at the Layton Cup Boxing Championship held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.
The former national champion whose form had deserted him in the recent past, showed that class is permanent as he clinically out-pointed Mihiran to win a majority decision.
Bandara was in his element as he set the pace in the fly weight final with speedy combinations against 20-year-old Mihiran who tried to slip away and counter attack.
However, Leading Chef Bandara, a bronze medallist at the Indonesian President’s Cup in 2019, kept pegging away without giving any respite to his opponent from Vidyarathane Sports Club who was the Best Boxer at the Nationals in February. Mihiran had to be content with the Best Loser’s award.
Another reigning national champion Chethiya Ekanayaka of Police was made to eat the humble pie against Army’s Sjriwardana in the Light Welter final while veteran Air Force pugilist Meegasthenna avenged his loss to Army’s Avishka in the Nationals with a stunning second round knock-out in the Super Heavyweight final.
The women’s Best Boxer and Best Loser came in the Minimum weight final where Army’s HRNN Perera won a thrilling contest against Police’s NS Wellappili.
Chairman of the Boxing selection committee Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya (rtd) was the Chief Guest.
Final results: MEN
Minimum weight (48kg): HMLP Jayawardana (SLA) beat AH Maduranga (VSC) WP 4:1
Fly (48-51kg): AMGI Bandara (SLN) beat GKPU Mihiran (VSC) WP 4:1
Bantam (51-54kg): PGE Madushan (SLAF) beat HI Chamara (SLAR) WP 3:2
Feather (54-57kg): NBASN Kumara (SLAB) beat EWA Sadaruwan (SLND) WP 3:2
Light (57-60kg): WMM Bandara (SLAA) beat NK Pathma Kumara (SLAB) WP 4:1
Light Welter (60-63.5kg): PSPS Siriwardana (SLAB) beat HMKC Ekanayaka (SLP) WP 5:0
Welter (63.5-67kg): PSPS Fernando (SLA) beat AMTS Adikari (SLN) WP 5:0
Light Middle (67-71kg): PMLL Chandrabandara (SLA) beat IPDC Udayakumara (SLAF) WP 3:2
Middle (71-75kg): WMGKGI Ariyarathna (SLN) beat KG Pathmasiri (SLA) WP 4:1
Light Heavyweight (75-80kg): HWGP Rathnasiri (SLP) beat HAWK Kumara (SLAF) WP 4:1
Cruiser (80-86kg): YSP Sudamma (SLA) beat AWA Madushan (SLND) ABD R2
Heavyweight (86-92kg): PARS Rupasinghe (SLA) beat PARL Vinod (SLN) RSC R1
Super Heavyweight (92+kg): MWMM Meegasthenna (SLAF) beat UA Avishka (SLA) KO R2
WOMEN
Minimum weight (45-48kg): HRNN Perera (SLA) beat NS Wellappili (SLP) WP 4:1
Light Fly (48-50kg): RAN Pushpakumari (VSC) beat BA Bethmini (SLA) WP 5:0
Fly Weight (50-52kg): HS Priyadarshani (SLA) beat AMDK Attanayake (SLP) ABD R1
Fly (52-54kg): LIM Malshani (SLAF) beat GWGC Tharuka (SLP) WP 5:0
Bantam (54-57kg): KKIT Perera (SLAF) beat PM Vidanagamage (SLP) WP 5:0
Light (57-60kg): MPSS Cooray (SLAF) beat MGMI Dasunika (SLA) WP 5:0
Light Welter (60-63kg): WWAK Thiwanka (SLAF) beat MBKNHS Kalhari (KBC) WP 5:0
Light Middle (66-70kg): GDL Sadakelum (SLP) beat KPAK Dipawansha (HRBC) ABD R1
Middle (70-75kg): KAGN Kaluarachchi (SLAF) beat RPD Rajapakse (SLP) WP 5:0
In women’s events, Woman Stores Assistant HMHP Jayakodi (under 80kg) won the gold medal. Adding more medals to the tally, Woman Stores Assistant KMJ Konara (under 51kg), Woman Able Provost LRS Sasangi (under 60kg) and Woman Able Seaman RMYDB Menike (under 57kg) won bronze medals.
Former Commander of the Army, General Jagath Jayasooriya (Retd), Chairman Sri Lanka Navy Boxing Pool, Commander MU Kumarathunga, its Secretary Commander ALGCN Sumedha, officers and a group of athletes were also present on this occasion.
