Sports
Piyal and Sanduni adjudged best boxers
Army shine bright at 97th National Boxing Championships
The 97th National Boxing Championships, organised by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), marked a historic milestone as it was held for the first time at the iconic outdoor venue of Galle Face Green. The event witnessed remarkable performances from seasoned campaigners and emerging talents, with Army boxers Piyal Dharmasena and Sanduni Priyadarshani clinching the prestigious Best Boxer awards.
Southpaw Piyal Dharmasena, a 34-year-old veteran with a string of international accolades, displayed technical brilliance to claim his fourth national title. In the Bantamweight (under 54kg) final, he delivered a knockout victory against 24-year-old Ravindu Jayanath Kumara of Vidyarathena SC. Dharmasena’s calculated aggression culminated in a decisive right hook, securing the Sir Henry Manning Challenge Cup for the Most Scientific Boxer of the Nationals.
On the women’s side, Sanduni Priyadarshani, 33, continued her stellar form, defeating 20-year-old Yashini Fernando in the Flyweight (under 52kg) final. Priyadarshani’s tactical superiority and precision strikes led to a referee-stopped contest in the final moments of the bout.
The championship also celebrated emerging talents, with Daniel Thisaraarachchi of Back2Fit and Yazmin Usaith of St. Sylvester’s College BC securing their maiden national titles in the men’s under 48kg and 75kg categories, respectively.
Vidyarathena SC’s Nadeeka Ranasinghe, a two-time Best Boxer at the Nationals, showcased her mastery to claim the minimum weight (under 48kg) title, earning the Dian Gomes Challenge Trophy for the Most Outstanding Women Boxer of the Year.
However, the event was not without controversy. Sri Lanka’s top male boxer, Umayanga Mihiran of Police, received the Eddie Gray Memorial Challenge Cup for his achievements but faced disqualification in the Flyweight (under 51kg) final for striking his opponent while he was down, resulting in a rare and dramatic end to his contest.
Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara, President of BASL, expressed his pride in the event, emphasizing its significance as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Olympics. “This tournament is something special, something unforgettable. It symbolises the dedication and unity that will drive us forward,” he stated, highlighting Sri Lanka’s recent successes, including medal wins in Seychelles and Taipei, and Sri Lanka’s first Asian medal in 37 years.
Chief Guest Shemal Fernando, representing the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, commended the athletes and organisers for their efforts. “Boxing combines physical endurance, strategic thinking, and mental resilience. These qualities transcend the ring, shaping individuals into disciplined and focused achievers,” he remarked, pledging the Ministry’s full support for expanding boxing across the nation.
“To the boxers who have triumphed tonight, you embody perseverance and dedication. Your journey has been far from easy, and each punch thrown reflects the countless hours of training and sacrifice. To the coaches, you are the architects of these athletes’ success, providing the guidance and encouragement that turn potential into achievement,” he added.
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- Piyal Dharmasena
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- Sanduni Priyadharshani
The championship, endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau and broadcast by PEO Sports, was a testament to the growing prominence of sports tourism in the country. With neutral referees and judges from South Korea, Ireland, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan ensuring transparency, the event set a high standard for future tournaments.
PEO Sports was the official broadcaster of the championship providing live coverage during the four days from January 23 to 26.
List of winners:
Men’s
Minimum (46-48kg): DH Thisaraarachchi (Back2Fit)
Fly (48-51kg): KASK Abeygunawardana (SL Army)
Bantam (51-54kg): RMP Dharmasena (SL Army)
Feather (54-57kg): PAR Prasanna (SL Army)
Light (57-60kg): RMPKK Rasnayaka (SL Army)
Light Welter (60-63.5kg): NK Padmakumara (SL Army Red)
Welter (63.5-67kg): KG Pathmasiri (SL Army)
Light Middle (67-71kg): PMLL Chandrabandara (SL Army)
Middle (71-75kg): YM Usaith (St. Sylvester’s College BC)
Light Heavy: (75-80kg) HWGP Rathnasiri (SL Police)
Cruiser (80-86kg): WAR Sandakelum (SL Army Red)
Heavy (86-92kg): PARS Roopasingha (SL Army)
Super Heavy (92+kg) MWMM Meegasthenne (SL Air Force)
Women’s
Minimum (45-48kg) RAN Pushpakumari (Vidyarathena SC)
Light Fly (48-50kg): SHSR Fernando (Independent)
Fly (50-52kg): HS Priyadarshani (SL Army)
Bantam (52-54kg): LIN Malshani (SL Air Force Kfir)
Feather (54-57kg): KAK Hansika (Vidyarathena SC)
Light (57-60kg): MPSS Cooray (SL Air Force Kfir)
Light Welter (60-63kg): WWAK THiwanka (SL Air Force Kfir)
Welter (63-66kg): YGAM Amarathunga (SL Army)
Light Middle (66-70kg): PAHC Pasyala (SL Air Force Kfir)
Middle (70-75kg): KAGN Kaluarachchi (SL Air Force Kfir)
Light Heavy (75-81kg): WGK Lalani (Sivali BC)
Heavy (81+Wkg): HADC Wathsala (SL Army)
Jason Holder was so omnipresent that his involvement in five dismissals enabled the Gujarat Titans (GT) to bowl Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) out for 155 in Ahmedabad. Such a middling chase was right up the alley of Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudarshan, but once GT lost both their openers in the powerplay, their soft underbelly was exposed once again. They needed cameos from Holder (12 off 10 balls) and their Impact Player RahulTewatia (27* off 17 balls) to get over the line, handing defending champions RCB their third defeat in IPL 2026.
Virat Kohli flew out of the blocks for RCB, hitting Kagiso Rabada for four successive fours in the second over after they were asked to bat first by GT. Even Rabada’s traditional hard length was pumped over mid-off. In the next over, Kohli charged at Mohammed Siraj and deposited him over mid-on for four more. However, when Kohli tried to charge at Rabada in the fourth over, the South Africa quick hit the deck harder and drew a top edge to midwicket. Rabada had the last laugh and gave the departing Kohli (28 off 13 balls) a death stare.
Siraj had earlier dismissed Jacob Bethell, who got another game in place of the injured Phil Salt, for a run-a-ball 5. Rabada and Siraj bowled right through the powerplay and kept RCB to 59 for 2.
Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Padidar forged a 44-run partnership for the third wicket before Holder caught the RCB captain at deep square leg in the eighth over. Doubts, however, emerged around the legality of the catch when slow-mo replays suggested that Holder may have grassed it more than once, including while sliding. The TV umpire, Abhijit Bhattacharya, perhaps deemed that Holder was in control of his movements and ultimately ruled Patidar out.
Some of RCB’s players and staff disagreed with the TV umpire’s decision, gesturing that Holder had grassed it. Kohli was seemingly remonstrating with reserve umpire Parashar Joshi after which RCB coach Andy Flower was also spotted having an intense chat with Joshi. Having waited near the boundary, Patidar dragged himself off the field.
Holder was involved in four other dismissals. He had Jitesh Sharma nicking off in the ninth before taking the catches of both Tim David (9) and Krunal Pandya (4) at midwicket. Holder claimed his second wicket when he had his West Indian compatriot Romario Shepherd holing out.
Despite wickets falling around him, Padikkal kept up RCB’s high intent and manufactured scoring opportunities by making swinging room. He top-scored for RCB with 40 off 24 balls before Rashid Khan had him chopping on with a slider.
At 126 for 7, RCB pressed the emergency switch and brought in Venkatesh Iyer as their Impact Player at a cost of a specialist bowler in Rasikh Dar. Venkatesh struggled for fluency and also copped a blow on his unprotected elbow. His 29-run stand for the ninth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped drag RCB to 155 before they were dismissed with four balls unused in their innings.
Gill kickstarted GT’s chase by whacking Josh Hazlewood for three fours and two sixes in a 24-run over. Hazlewood had not conceded more runs in an IPL over ever. Gill pressed on to score 43 off 18 balls – the most he has scored in an IPL powerplay – before he slapped Bhuvneshwar to cover, where Kohli grabbed the fast-travelling ball with both hands.
Buttler then took over from Gill and attacked both Hazlewood’s pace and Suyash Sharma’s wristspin. Buttler cracked 39 off 19 balls before he exposed his leg stump, only for Bhuvneshwar to knock it out in the eighth over. Bhuvneshwar also removed Sai Sudharsan during his four consecutive overs. While Hazlewood leaked 56 runs in his four overs for no wickets, Bhuvneshwar ended up giving away only half as many while picking up those three wickets.
Shepherd had to step in as their fourth bowler after they had sacrificed a specialist bowler in Rasikh Dar for Venkatesh’s batting. He responded by taking out both Shahrukh Khan and Washington in one over, the 11th of the chase. Holder then diffused the tension that Shepherd had built up by hooking his first ball for six. When Holder fell in the 14th over, GT needed 15 off 37 balls. Tewatia and Rashid got the job done with 25 balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 158 for 6 in 15.5 overs (Shubman Gill 43, Jos Buttler 39, Washington Sundar 12, Rahul Tewtia 27*, Jason Holder 12; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-28, Suyash Sharma 1-44, Romario Shepherd 2-30) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 155 in 19.2 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 40, Virat Kohli 28, Rajat Patidar 19, Romario Shepherd 17, Venkatesh Ayer 12, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar 15*; Mohammed Siraj 1-38, Kagiso Rabada 1-44, Arshad Khan 3-22, Rashid 2-19, Jason Holder 2-29) by four wickets
[Cricinfo]
A superb display of spin bowling led by Sri Lanka Under-19 spinner Vigneswaran Akash powered St. Joseph’s College to a first innings victory over Royal College in the Under-19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket final concluded at the P. Sara Oval on Thursday.
Defending a formidable first innings total of 443, the Josephians relied on their spinners to dismantle a strong Royal batting line-up, eventually bowling them out for 378 to secure the title on first innings.
The spin trio of Akash, Vishwa Peiris and Nushan Perera shared all ten wickets between them, maintaining tight control throughout Royal’s reply. Leading the charge was Akash, the Jaffna-spinner, who delivered a match-winning performance with five wickets for 136 runs in a marathon spell of 44.2 overs.
Akash’s key breakthrough came when he removed his Sri Lanka Under-19 captain Vimath Dinsara, who top-scored with a valiant 95. Dinsara, along with Ramiru Perera (90), kept Royal in contention with a strong fourth-wicket stand after early setbacks.
Royal showed resilience through several useful contributions. Rehan Peiris made 43, while Dushen Udawela added 45. However, the Josephian spinners struck at crucial intervals to halt any momentum, with Peiris claiming three wickets and Perera chipping in with two.
Earlier, St. Joseph’s built the foundation for victory with an imposing 443 in their first innings. Senuja Wakunegoda led the batting effort with a magnificent 123, supported by Rishma Amarasinghe (73), Chethina Kavinda (78), Dilpa Maduranga (56) and Nushan Perera (54). For Royal, Mahiru Kodithuwakku and Himaru Deshan claimed three wickets apiece.
Despite a spirited batting effort, Royal ultimately fell short against a disciplined and relentless spin attack, as St. Joseph’s celebrated a well-deserved championship triumph.
(RF)
Harshitha Samarawickrama blasted an unbeaten 49 off just 29 deliveries to set up Sri Lanka’s series-clinching win over Bangladesh in the second T20I at Sylhet. The visitors, riding on Samarawickrama’s flourish at the end, posted 154 and ran home comfortable victors by 21 runs.
Asked to bat, Sri Lanka put together a substantial total, built on the back of a composed top-order effort and a strong finishing kick. Sri Lanka got off to a sedate start with Hasini Perera falling cheaply to Fariha Trisna. Captain Chamari Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani then stitched a 44-run stand at a steady pace before the latter fell for a 25-ball 27.
Athapaththu shared another short stand with Samarawickrama before the captain fell for a 37-ball 42. At that stage, Sri Lanka were 93 for 3 in the 14th over and in need of a flourish to finish strongly. Samarawickrama produced just that as she struck four fours and a pair of sixes. Nilakshika Silva gave her company in a 61-run stand with a solid 22 off her own to fire the total above the par range.
In response, Bangladesh never quite managed to keep pace with the asking rate despite a rather brisk 46-run opening partnership between Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. Once both batters fell after failing to convert their respective starts, the run rate dipped and Sri Lanka’s spinners were able to squeeze the chase in the middle overs. Kavisha Dilhari finished with 2 for 15 from her four overs and that meant Bangladesh fell well short despite a battling unbeaten 44 off 47 balls from Sharmin Akhter.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 154/4 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 49*, Imesha Dulani 27; Nilakshika Silva 22*, Chamari Athapaththu 42; Fariha Trisna 1-23, Sultana Khatun 1-21, Nahida Akter 1-34, Ritu Moni 1-40) beat Bangladesh Women 133/5 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 23, Juairiya Ferdous 29; Sharmin Akther 44, Shorna Akter 12; Kavisha Dilhari 2-15, Sugandika Kumari 0-14) by 21 runs.
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