The 2012 edition of the ABA Youth Boxing Championship pledges to feature Sri Lanka’s best youth pugilists in a tournament which is scheduled to be worked off from February 8 – 10, 2013 at the Sports Ministry’s New Gymnasium in Torrington Square, Colombo 7, informs Sri Lanka’s Amateur Boxing Association (ABA).
According to the ABA, the tournament will also stand as a selection trial for the ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships 2013 to be held in Subic Bay, Philippines during March 10 – 16, 2013.
According to Mahesh Dahanayake, Secretary of ABA, the tournament would bring together a blend of young boxers from many parts of the country. “This tournament will bring together a blend of great young boxing talent (aged 17-18yrs onwards –born during 1994-95 period) from around the country. Organized by the School Boxing Association of Sri Lanka the Championships will be conducted according to the 2012 AIBA rules by the BRJ of Sri Lanka which is also affiliated to the ABA of Sri Lanka.”
The tournament will be worked off with ten weight categories each for both Men’s and Women’s categories. “There will be bouts in the 49kg Light Fly Weight to 91+kg Super Heavy Weight categories for men and the women’s boxing will be in the 48kg Light Fly Weight to 81+kg Super Heavy Weight Category. Overall there will be ten weight categories each for men and women. Each team is eligible to produce up to ten pugilists in each weight class for the Championships”, detailed Dahanayake.
This year too, the pugilists from Kandy will be entering the Youth Boxing, being tagged as the overall favourites of the tournament. In the 2011 edition of the tournament, Vidyartha College, Kandy walked away with the championship, while the Kingswood Boxing Club was adjudged the Runner up. Kandy managed to seal all three top slots in the tournament when Dharmaraja College settled in for the third place.
The Best Boxer award was won by T.D. Ranasinghe of Dharmaraja College while the Best Loser award was won by K.A.A. Madusanka of MAS Silueta Boxing Club.
While the coveted Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasurity Challege Throphy will received by this year’s champion, all Winners, Runners-Up and Semifinalists will receive cups / medals and certificates. The Best Boxers and the Best Losers will receive Special Awards, says ABA.
