Sri Lanka is set to make history with its largest-ever representation at the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships, as a 13-member squad – including four women pugilists – prepares to compete in Amman, Jordan, from November 28 to December 12.
The squad, selected from a national pool of 43 based on performances at the recent Layton Cup, will also participate in an international training camp from November 7 to 27 to refine their skills ahead of the competition.
The Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has been riding a wave of success since the election of its president Dr. Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara in May. Reflecting on recent achievements, Dr. Bandara remarked: “Our objective is to give maximum international exposure and high-performance training to our elite boxers in preparation for major international competitions next year.”
The team has garnered medals in international events in Seychelles, Chinese Taipei and the UAE, with hopes to carry this momentum into the Asian Championships.
“We want to continue this momentum and inspire our boxers to go for glory in the Asian Championships,” he added.
The Sri Lankan squad will compete in 13 of the 25 weight classes, facing off against athletes from developing boxing nations such as Bangladesh, Yemen and Palestine.
Leading the charge for Sri Lanka will be 21-year-old Umayanga Mihiran and southpaw Rukmal Prasanna, 25, who bring a wealth of international experience to the team. Mihiran, a two-time national Light Flyweight champion, came close to qualifying for the Paris Olympics, winning two qualification bouts, while Prasanna, who claimed gold at the 2022 Les Ceintures International Meet in France, is eager to make his mark on the Asian stage.
Army’s Suranga Fernando and Air Force’s Chinthana Udayakumara, both gold medallists from the Seychelles Independence Day Cup in June, are also expected to assert their dominance. Making his international debut will be Layton Cup Best Boxer Hasitha Nuwan Jinadasa, joined by talented young prospect Yazmin Usaith, a 19-year-old winner from Kandy, who recently clinched the Middleweight title at the Layton Cup.
The women’s contingent includes seasoned pugilists like Nadeeka Pushpakumari, a bronze medallist at the 2019 Asian Championship in Dubai and Keshani Hansika, who returns to the international arena following knee surgery. Air Force’s Ishara Thushari Perera and Army’s Sanduni Priyadarshini, both standouts from the Layton Cup, will be making their international debuts.
Among the women poolists, there is no place for veteran Air Force and Sri Lanka pugilist Sajeewani Cooray, 34, unbeaten multiple national champion and a quarter-finalist at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
The team’s efforts will be guided by Air Force boxing Chairman Group Captain Buddhika Nissanka, along with coaches Amila Aravinda Tissera and Sajeewa Dassanayake.
With a solid foundation, robust training, and experience on their side, Sri Lanka’s squad aims to bring home medals from Amman and build momentum toward major events like the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Following is the tour squad:
