The 86th Boxing National Championship tournament for 2012, organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (ABA), will be held from 14th to 18th December 2012, commencing at 3pm each day.
In an unprecedented move, the ABA will arrange the tournament in Kandy this year. It is a first in the history of the Boxing National Championship for the venue to be changed from Colombo to Kandy. MAS Holdings will host the tournament at their fully fledged, two-ring Linea Gymnasium in Pallekele during the first few days. In order to accommodate over 200 pugilists the bouts will be held simultaneously in two boxing rings.
The finals of the tournament to be held on Tuesday 18th December will be at the Kandy City Centre, Roof Top which will be transformed to cater to the large number of spectators expected in Kandy.
This year has seen heightened Sri Lankan boxing standards. The Gold Medal won by Anusha Kodituwakku in Tunisia during the Tunisian International Women’s Boxing Tournament in November and the subsequent win of the MAS Challenge Cup on the 01st of December after 4 Bouts victory by the Sri Lankan Team over India is the beginning of the arduous climb towards victory in the sport at world level. Sri Lankan pugilists have gained confidence and skill over the years. National tournaments such as these will ensure that the much needed experience is imparted and the skills are honed for more victories at international levels.
Even though Anusha bid adieu to competitive boxing on the 01st of December after 10 years as an amateur boxer, it will pave the way for young and skilled women to be inspired to reach the pinnacle in their respective weight category. She won the gold medal and the Best Female Boxer award after beating Pooja of India in the Light Fly weight category for her efforts in her “swan song”.
Further the re-emergence of Manju Wanniarachchi, an old boy of Vidyartha College, Kandy, from a two year ban will keep the momentum of enthusing boxing continuing. It will no doubt inspire the young men, especially from the Hill Country that hard work does pay and nothing is impossible in the sport. The most awaited and thrilling bouts will be between Manju and the current unbeaten national champion Gayan Jayaweera in the Bantam Weight under 56kg category. The enthusiasts of the sport will no doubt be able to look forward to a keenly contested fight.
The winners of the tournament in the varying weight categories will qualify for the final trials of the SAF games to be held in March 2013. Hopefuls for gold will be representing the Slimline, Linea Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Unichela, Silueta, MAS Southern Boxing Club as well as schools, Vidyartha, Kingswood, Vidaratha SC, and Royal College.
The ABA of Ceylon was formed in 1926 and the inaugural National Championship was conducted in the same year. Prior to that, another boxing championship was held for the benefit of the three Armed Forces since the beginning of 20th century and had been organized by the United Services Boxing Association of Ceylon (USBAC). According to the rules and regulations at the time, a Boxer could enter the competition independently or represent a club, the Armed Service or a Govt. Department. A Boxer could also compete in more than one weight category and was allowed to sport facial hair by way of a mustache or a beard. The rules have been more stringent now. Male Boxers are expected to be clean shaven among other changes to ensure that the International health and safety standards are met. In addition, there are very competent female Boxers who have made their mark even at International levels since year 2000.
The records available since 1954 state that, the Army had dominated at the Nationals. They had won the Championship outright on 31 occasions and also shared one Championship with the Pee Vee Club of Slave Island. The Police had won the Championships six times and the Slimline Boxing Club, Pannala has won six times and are the reigning Champions. Colombo YMCA had won 4 times and had shared one victory with the Navy and in addition Navy had won 3 times. The St. Michael’s Club, Polwatte and Taj Boxing Club had won one each.
As records are available only from 1953 we can only guess the winners of the various awards from 1926 to 1953. Currently there are four awards to be won at the National Boxing Championships. The Sgt. E.S. Selvadurai Memorial Challenge Cup (Lotus flower shaped) awarded since 1954 will be presented to the Most Successful Club. The Sir Henry William Manning Challenge Cup Awarded since 1926 will be awarded to the Most Scientific Boxer of the meet. It is also recorded that this cup had been awarded at the Inter Services Championship from 1923 to 1925. The Muttiah Xavier Roche Memorial Challenge Cup which will be awarded to the Most Successful Club of the year has been presented since 1954 and the Donald Munesinghe Challenge Cup will be awarded to the Best Loser of the Meet and has been presented since 1992.
In the past the high standard in Inter School Championships for the Sir R. Edward Stubbs Shield had enabled the winners in the senior weight category to be bold enough to enter and win at the Nationals. Some such champions were M.T. Swangsa, Albert Perera, T.M.S. Samidon, M.S.M. Ickram of Zahira College Maradana, Dharmasiri Weerakoon of Christin College, Kotte, Malcolm Bulner of St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, Winston and brothers Geoffery Van Culeberg, M Jaroof, H.M. Marzook and T.J.I Ismail of St. Michael’s College, Polwatte, twins, D.S. and D.J. Nittikuumar and W.M. Chitrananda of St. Mathews College, Dematagoda, N.B. Walisundera, R.M.U. Bandara, Manju Wanniarachchi of Vidyartha College, Kandy, Anuruddha Rathnayaka of Peradeniya Central College and K.A.C.N. Alexander of Seevali Central College, Rathnapura.
The 2011 National Tournament saw Nilmini Jayasinghe of the MAS Southern Boxing Club clinching the Best Female Boxer award, while T.D.N.T. Jayakody of the Air Force Boxing Club won the Sir William Challenge Trophy for the Most Scientific Boxer. The MAS Southern Boxing Club “A” Team won the Women’s Team Championships and the Army Boxing Club was awarded Sgt. Selvadurai Memorial Challenge Cup for the Most Successful Club of the Year for 2011. P.D. Suresh of MAS Slimline Boxing Club won the Most Outstanding Boxer of the year award and MAS Slimline Boxing Club once again won the Most Successful Club award.
The Hon. Minister of Sports, Mahindanda Aluthgamage is expected to grace the occasion during the final bouts and awards presentation among other distinguished guests. Boxing stalwarts such as Dian Gomes and the sponsors of this event A & E and MAS Holdings and their teams will guide this event to a successful conclusion.
Many talented pugilists have been inspired to focus on their training and reach world standards thanks to the sponsors of the sport of Boxing in Sri Lanka. They need to be commended as the fruit of their labour becomes apparent with the many entry requests for this meet in comparison to previous years. Winning gold at international level by veterans such as Anusha Kodituwakku adds to the endless possibilities of victories in boxing for Sri Lanka at international levels continuing to inspire young and talented pugilists.
