The National Boxing Novices tournament for the year 2011 organized by the ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) of Sri Lanka was worked off at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium boxing ring, from 22nd – 25th August.
The event had drawn over 50 boxing clubs fielding 180 male boxers and 45 female boxers, while SL Army, Navy and Airforce boxing clubs fielding 75 boxers each, making a record settingturnout for this Tournament in the history of Boxing in Sri Lanka.
The Army Boxing Club managed to walk away withthree Gold and three Silver, whilst Slimline SC won three Gold and one Silverby all four Boxers representing the Club.
Two of five Male Boxers who were fielded by Police Boxing Clubclinched Goldin Bantam & Middle weight categories respectively.
According to ABA, the winner and runner up of this tournamentare qualified to compete at the National Level Tournaments, such as Layton Cup, Clifford Cup and NationalChampionships.
MAS Southern BC grabbed two Gold and one silver Medal out of the eight bouts they fought with seven boxers. The Navy Sports Club saw eightfemale finalists out of which two won, one Gold and two Silvermedals. The Police Boxing Club fielded threefemale boxers out of whom two walked away with Gold medals.
M. D. V.Weerasinghe and S.PriyankaGuneththi of the PoliceBoxing Club were awarded ‘The Best Boxer’ awards in both the Men and Women categories whilst the women’s Best Looser Award was won byLinea Clothing Sports Club’s T. L. D. M.Abeywardena and Men’s Best Looser Award was won by Army RedBoxing Clubs’ K. T. Ramesh.
ABA claims that this year’s competition contained a high standard of Boxing and a larger group of youngsters vying fortheir respective weight category titles. It also promises that year 2012 will definitely have an even higher turn-out of Boxers and the Novices Tournament willrequire to be held for 5 days in order to accommodate bouts.
As Sri Lanka is gently inching towardsthe goal of reaching required standards in most weight categories to win medals at the Internationaltournaments, the ABA has planned for various training and coaching programs to ensure reachingthis goal.
The authoritative body for boxing in Sri Lanka asserts that the future of this sport seems extremely promising for the island and requires careful planningand funding to realize the dream of Gold at Olympics.
