The Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (ABASL) is to host The Lion’s Cup International Boxing Tournament 2014, which will take place from the 28th of April to the 2nd of May at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium.
The first international-scale boxing meet to be hosted in the country will see the participation of over 70 internationally recognized boxers representing 10 countries, namely Australia, Belgium, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Sri Lanka as the host.
The Opening Ceremony and 17 preliminary bouts are scheduled to be held on the 28th of April while the quarterfinals will be held on the 29th April, with the semifinals scheduled for the 30th April. The final 10 bouts with the Closing Ceremony of the Lion’s Cup being scheduled for the 2nd May.
“It gives us great pride to host an event of this magnitude in Sri Lanka for the first time in boxing history. This also becomes a great platform for our national boxers to display their progress in time for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014.” said the President of the ABASL Mr. Aubrey Peiris.
The format of the tournament being, the male boxers competing in seven weight class; Light Flyweight (49kg), Flyweight (52kg), Bantamweight (56kg), Lightweight (60kg), Light Welterweight (64kg), Welterweight (69kg) and Middleweight (75kg). Whilst the female pugilists will compete in Flyweight (51kg), Lightweight (60kg) and Middleweight (75kg) weight classes.
Sri Lankan boxing has taken a huge leap from yesteryear with many mercantile organizations like MAS holdings coming into the main stage to develop this once popular sport. An eminent figure in the development of Sri Lankan Boxing history is Mr. Dian Gomes who has looked to popularize this sport once again with the help of the ABASL, where they have spread their reach to school level development as well as Club level and mercantile level development. Mr Gomes, who is also the Chairman of the Tournament Committee, said, “Sri Lankan boxing has been taking steps in the right direction towards realizing our Olympic dream, and to have the talent, capacity and capability to host an international boxing tournament for the first time in the country, certainly shows how much the sport has evolved and how much it is endorsed by the Sri Lankan public.”
The Sri Lankan squad comprises of a few well known names like Olympian Anuruddha Rathnayake, and Manju Wanniarachchi and the female super star Anusha Kodithuwakku who no doubt will do their utmost best to bring pride and prestige to the motherland.
The tournament which is definitely a giant stepping stone, in terms of Sri Lankan Boxing, will definitely pave the way for further development and recognition among the world Boxing community and will undoubtedly provide an opportunity for Sri Lankan Pugilists to gain exposure and experience which will definitely go a long way and hopefully will lead to winning a Gold medal at the Olympics which is the hope and dream of many a Sri Lankan.
The Squads for the Lions cup are as follows;
Mens Squad;
Anuruddha Ratnayake, Manju Wanniarachchi, P.SAparamadu,M. Dilshan, P. Madushan, Maduranga Navaratne
Womens Squad;
Anusha Kodituwakku, Shiromali Weerarathne, Keshani Hanshika
The tournament Schedule is as follows;
28th of April 2014 – Opening Ceremony/ 17 preliminary bouts
29th of April 2014 – Quarterfinals
30th of April 2014 – Semi Finals
2nd of April 2014 – Final 10 bouts and Closing ceremony
