Sri Lanka is about to achieve a major milestone with its largest team ever heading to the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships. A group of 13 passionate athletes, including four determined women boxers, is set to represent the country in Amman, Jordan, from November 28 to December 12.
The Sri Lankan boxing team, chosen from a group of 43 based on standout performances at the recent Layton Cup, is gearing up for an international training camp from November 7 to 27. This intensive preparation aims to sharpen their skills ahead of the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.
Since Dr. Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara became President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in May, the organization has seen significant success. Reflecting on their progress, Dr. Bandara emphasized, “Our goal is to give our elite boxers as much international exposure and high-performance training as possible to prepare them for major competitions next year.”
The team has already won medals in Seychelles, Chinese Taipei, and the UAE, and they’re hoping to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming Asian Championships. “We want to keep building on this momentum and inspire our boxers to aim for gold in the Asian Championships,” Dr. Bandara added.
Sri Lanka will compete in 13 of the 25 weight categories, facing athletes from emerging boxing nations like Bangladesh, Yemen, and Palestine.
Leading the team are two standout boxers, 21-year-old Umayanga Mihiran and 25-year-old southpaw Rukmal Prasanna. Mihiran, a two-time national Light Flyweight champion, nearly qualified for the Paris Olympics, winning two qualification bouts. Meanwhile, Prasanna, who claimed gold at the 2022 Les Ceintures International Meet in France, is eager to leave his mark on the Asian stage.
Joining them are Suranga Fernando from the Army and Chinthana Udayakumara from the Air Force, both of whom won gold at the Seychelles Independence Day Cup in June. Hasitha Nuwan Jinadasa, the Best Boxer at the Layton Cup, will make his international debut, while 19-year-old Yazmin Usaith, a rising star from Kandy, recently won the Middleweight title at the Layton Cup and is another exciting young talent.
On the women’s side, the team includes experienced boxers like Nadeeka Pushpakumari, a bronze medallist at the 2019 Asian Championship in Dubai, and Keshani Hansika, who is returning to competition after knee surgery. Joining them are Air Force’s Ishara Thushari Perera and Army’s Sanduni Priyadarshini, both making their international debuts after strong showings at the Layton Cup.
However, notable veteran pugilist Sajeewani Cooray, a 34-year-old multiple national champion and a quarter-finalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, is not part of the women’s team this time.
The squad is being guided by Air Force boxing Chairman Group Captain Buddhika Nissanka, along with coaches Amila Aravinda Tissera and Sajeewa Dassanayake. With a solid foundation of training, experience, and determination, the team is focused on bringing home medals from Amman and building momentum for major events like the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Touring Contingent:
WOMEN
48kg: R.A.N. Pushpakumari (Vidyarathana SC)
50kg: K.K.I.T. Perera (Air Force)
52kg: H.S. Priyadarshani (Army)
57kg: K.A.K. Hansika (Vidyarathana SC)
MEN
48kg: T.H.N. Jinadasa (Police)
51kg: G.P.U. Mihiran (Police)
54kg: G.J.K.R. Kumara (Vidyarathana SC)
57kg: P.A.R. Prasanna (Army)
63.5kg: H.A.H.D. Hettiarachchi (Navy)
67kg: P.S.P.S. Fernando (Army)
71kg: I.P.D.C. Udayakumara (Air Force)
75kg: Y.M. Usaith (St. Sylvester’s BC)
86kg: Y.S.P. Sudamma (Army)
