St. Sylvester’s, Hemamali clinch BASL Youth Boxing Titles

St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, and Hemamali Girls’ College, Kandy, emerged as champions at the BASL Youth Boxing Championship, retaining the General Jagath Jayasuriya Challenge Trophies, organized by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka, concluded at Sahas Uyana in Kandy.

St. Sylvester’s, the reigning Stubbs Shield champions, secured a total of nine medals, including four golds, three silvers, and two bronzes. Hemamali dominated the girls’ division, clinching five golds and one silver medal.

Royal College, Colombo, finished as runners-up in the boys’ category with a total of nine medals, comprising two golds, two silvers, and five bronzes. Sripalee College, Horana, claimed the second spot in the girls’ division, winning four golds, one silver, and three bronzes.

The tournament saw best performances in both the boys’ and girls’ categories. Nalanda College’s IND Thathsara, who triumphed in the flyweight (51kg) final against PGTP Maduwantha of St Sylvester’s, was named the Best Boxer (men). Hemamali’s KMN Sandeepani, who won the flyweight (52kg) title, was awarded the Best Boxer (women) title for her exceptional performance.

Several thrilling bouts highlighted the championship. Royal College’s Stubbs Shield Best Boxer, Thenuwan Meegalle, outpointed TL Dharmapriya of St Sylvester’s in a closely contested featherweight (57kg) bout. Sylvestrian KGSK Heshan, last year’s Best Boxer, overcame a tough challenge from Zahira College’s junior international A. Azil in the lightweight (60kg) final. Trinitian Shezan Odayar delivered a stunning first-round win over Royalist Malith Bandara in the middleweight (75kg) final.

In addition to their gold medalists, St Sylvester’s also saw NM Abdulrahman (54kg), JMT Deshan (63.5kg), and SGM Azhar (71kg) winning golds. Hemamali’s gold medalists included All Island National School Games Best Boxer Chathuni Siriwardena (50kg), HGS Sewwandi (57kg), UGSD Perera (63kg), and AMU Devindi (81kg).