Sports
97th National Boxing Championship set to commence at Galle Face Green today
History will be made when the National Boxing Championship is held outdoors at the iconic Galle Face Green. This landmark event, organised by the Tri Forces and Police and endorsed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau, promises to be more than just a competition – it is a celebration of sports tourism and a bold step toward hosting international boxing events in Sri Lanka. The event will commence today.
“This championship is a significant milestone for Sri Lankan boxing,” said Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara, President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL). “It’s not only a showcase of our country’s boxing talent but also a launchpad for our ambitious ‘Road to LA28’ project, aimed at securing Olympic qualification and medals at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.”
Promoted as a premier sports tourism event, the Nationals serve as a dress rehearsal for BASL’s broader vision of positioning Sri Lanka as a hub for international boxing. The championship will also identify and prepare a talent pool to represent the country at the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games.
A Year of Achievements
The Nationals cap an eventful season for Sri Lankan boxing. The country’s pugilists shone at international competitions in Seychelles, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand, with the highlight being Sri Lanka’s participation in the Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai. There, Umayanga Mihiran ended a 37-year medal drought by clinching a bronze. Mihiran, who narrowly missed Paris Olympic qualification after two victories in Bangkok, will be the star attraction as he looks to further cement his legacy.
“This event is about recognising our athletes’ achievements and building on their successes,” Bandara added. “It’s a celebration of their hard work and a platform to propel them to even greater heights.”
The Championship promises intense duels across multiple divisions, with over 100 elite pugilists returning to the ring to cap a period of remarkable achievements. Clifford Cup Best Boxer and Seychelles gold medalist Suranga Fernando and Rukmal Prasanna will spearhead a formidable Army team, expected to dominate the men’s division.
Meanwhile, Air Force’s Ishara Thushari Perera, last year’s Best Boxer at the Nationals, is set to make her much-anticipated return alongside Chinthana Udayakumara, another Seychelles gold medalist.
Adding to the excitement, 20-year-old Yazmin Usaith of St Sylvester’s BC, who has remained unbeaten this season, will be eyeing his first national title and underlining his reputation as a rising star.
Also returning will be Police’s Hasitha Jinadasa, the Best Boxer at the Layton Cup.
Navy are also expected to make a strong challenge having undergone a special training session in Trincomalee ahead of the Championship.
The women’s division is equally competitive, with Air Force’s seasoned pugilist and multiple national champion Sajeewani Cooray leading the charge along with Nishadi Malshani, both of whom missed out on selection for the Asian meet.
Vidyarathena SC’s Sachini Fernando, who clinched the Best Boxer title at the Clifford Cup, as well as Army’s Sanduni Priyadarshani, are both poised to make a significant impact.
A World-Class Event
To ensure international standards and transparency, five Olympic-level officials from Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Ireland will oversee the bouts. The event will also be broadcast live by PEO Sports, with daily action starting at 4:00 PM.
“We’re pulling out all the stops to make this a world-class event,” Bandara said. “Galle Face Green, with its stunning backdrop of the Arabian Sea, will be transformed into a pristine boxing arena. Giant LED screens will bring the action to life for fans in Colombo, making this an unforgettable experience.”
The 97th National Boxing Championship promises to be a spectacle of skill, passion, and determination, setting the stage for Sri Lanka’s boxing future.
by Rex Clementine
A sea of Australian fans are expected to descend upon Galle for the much-anticipated Warne–Murali Trophy, set to kick off later this month. With Australia – the world’s top-ranked Test side – locking horns with sixth-ranked Sri Lanka, cricket enthusiasts are gearing up for a spectacle, with both Tests scheduled at the picturesque Galle International Stadium.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced yesterday that tickets will go on sale soon, and fans can purchase them via the official SLC website. For those who prefer the old-school way, tickets will also be available at the gates starting January 27, with prices ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 12,500.
SLC had previously thrown open the gates for Test matches free of charge, hoping to breathe new life into the longest format of the game. However, an SLC insider revealed that the decision to sell tickets this time is due to the expected influx of Australian supporters. Sri Lanka’s allure as a top-tier tourist destination, the demand has skyrocketed.
Over the years, former Aussie cricketers like Merv Hughes and Geoff Marsh have played a pivotal role in bringing tour groups to Sri Lanka. However, Australian fans have yet to embrace Sri Lanka with the same fervour as England’s legendary Barmy Army, who travel in droves.
The 2001 series between Sri Lanka and England was a watershed moment, drawing over 5,000 British fans. At the time, the British High Commission in Colombo requested a meeting with SLC officials, raising eyebrows as it came during the peak of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict. To everyone’s surprise, security wasn’t their primary concern – it was the availability of sufficient toilet facilities for the traveling fans! SLC responded promptly by installing mobile toilets across all venues, ensuring the series was a roaring success and providing a much-needed boost to the nation’s tourism industry.
It remains to be seen whether the upcoming Aussie tour can recreate that magic, but hopes are high.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan squad has returned to their training base in Galle, sharpening their skills for the showdown. The Australian team, currently fine-tuning their preparations in Abu Dhabi, is expected to arrive later this week.
Despite Australia having already punched their ticket to the World Test Championship final, the series is far from a dead rubber. Sri Lanka’s Head Coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, has made his intentions clear – he wants to bring the Warne–Murali Trophy back home. Australia regained the coveted prize in 2019 and held onto it despite the 2022 series ending in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Sri Lanka is expected to announce their squad in the coming days. A series win against the reigning world champions would propel them to the fifth spot in the ICC Test rankings, giving the team and their fans plenty to cheer about.
Two ODIs will follow the Test series. Both one-dayers will be played at RPS.
Under 19 Division I Cricket
by Reemus Fernando
Mahanama registered a first innings victory over struggling Richmond to retain their number one spot in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ group ‘X’ points table as Chamika Heenatigala and skipper Anuk Wijewardhane excelled with four wicket hauls in the match played at Campbell Place.
At Moratuwa, Prince of Wales condemned St. Benedict’s to yet another first innings defeat to leave them at the bottom of the points table with relegation scares. Left-arm spinner Rusandu Silva delivered his best bowling performance of the season taking five wickets to restrict the Bens to 203 runs. Nethul Anuhas, who is also a left-arm spinner went pass the 40 wickets mark for the season with a match bag of six wickets for the Cambrians.
With the completion of yesterday’s matches all except St. Joseph’s and St. Servatius’ in group ‘X’ of Tier ‘A’ tournament have just a solitary match remaining in the tournament. While St. Joseph’s have three more matches to be completed before January 31, St. Servatius’ have two matches.
The Tier ‘B’ tournament match between Mahinda and St. Thomas’ Matara ended in a no decision after the latter reached 38 for six wickets at stumps in reply to Mahinda College’s 267 for 8 wickets declared.
Mahanama on first innings at Campbell Place
Scores
Richmond
105 all out in 32.5 overs (Nikil Jayaweera 26, Helith Edirisinghe 56; Chamika Heenatigala 4/07, Anuk Wijewardhane 4/29) and 203 for 9 decl. in 64 overs (Helith Edirisinghe 59, Bevin Jayawardana 34n.o., Malith de Silva 44; Geeth Sandaruwan 3/44, Chamika Heenatigala 2/48, Sithum Vihanga 3/26)
Mahanama
119 all out in 29.1 overs (Dulnith Sigera 32, Gimantha Dissanayake 21; Nethuja Basitha 7/50, Pubudu Mihiranga 2/20) and 41 for 3 in 11 overs (Dulnith Sigera 34; Nethuja Basitha 2/30)
Cambrians on first innings at Moratuwa
Scores
Prince of Wales
275 for 6 decl. in 94 overs (Rivith Jayasooriya 29, Palingu Perera 55, Suwahas Fernando 22, Gavesha Fernando 64, Deneth Sithumina 62n.o.; Mevan Dissanayake 4/84) and 78 for 6 decl. in 20 overs (Suwahas Fernando 21n.o.; Ayesh Gajanayake 2/13, Mevan Dissanayake 2/25, Manikya Deshapriya 2/11)
St. Benedict’s
203 all out in 65.1 overs (Didula Edirisuriya 25, Tehan Bitar 54, Jaindu Nandasena 26, Samindu Peiris 25, Manikya Deshapriya 43; Rivith Jayasooriya 3/43, Nethul Anuhas 2/52, Rusandu Silva 5/53) and 33 for 4 in 5 overs (Nethul Anuhas 4/17)
Tire ‘B’
No decision at Mahinda College ground
Scores
Mahinda
267 for 8 decl. In 55 overs (Thevindu Rashmika 81, Randula Mabarana 21, Senuka Dangamuwa 73, Manitha Rajapaksha 20; Dinura Pawinji 2/50, Loshitha Diksith 2/49, Senura Gihan 2/19)
St. Thomas’
Matara 38 for 6 in 17 overs (Sahanjith Samajith 2/05, Senuka Dangamuwa 4/09)
England’s new era in white-ball cricket under Brendon McCullum began with a crushing defeat against world champions India as familiar frailties against spin resurfaced in the first T20 in Kolkata.
After seamer Arshdeep Singh dismissed Phil Salt for a three-ball duck and Ben Duckett in his first two overs, the middle order fell in a sorry heap against India’s spinners and England were bowled out for 132.
Captain Jos Buttler played a lone hand with 68 from 44 balls but Harry Brook was the next highest scorer with 17.
Brook was bowled in the eighth over by the superb Varun Chakaravarthy, who then dismissed Liam Livingstone for a duck two balls later as England’s scoring stalled and wickets tumbled.
Jacob Bethell struggled for seven from 14 balls, Jamie Overton managed only two at number seven and Gus Atkinson fell to England’s old foe Axar Patel for a painful two from 12 balls.
Chakaravarthy returned to dismiss Buttler in the 17th over – ending England’s hope of a big finish as he claimed figures of 3-23.
Jofra Archer impressed with 2-21 in India’s chase but the hosts still romped to a seven-victory with 43 balls to spare – England’s heaviest T20 defeat in terms of deliveries remaining.
Gus Atkinson conceded 23 in the second over and Abhishek Sharma crashed 79 from 34 balls with the pressure released.
The second T20 in the five-match series is on Saturday in Chennai.
Brief scores:
England 132 in 20 overs [Jos Buttler 68, Harry Brook 17; Arshdeep Singh 2-17, Hardik Pandya 2-42, Varun Chakravarthy 3-23, Axar Patel 2-22] lost to India 133/3 in 12.5 overs [Sanju Samson 26, Abhishek Sharma 79, Tilak /varma 19*; Joffra Archer 2-21, Adil /rashid 1-27] by seven wickets
[BBC]
Ensuring Food Security, a Key Policy of the Current Government
A country cannot progress through laws and regulations alone – President
Showers will occur at times in Uva, Northern and North-Central provinces and in Ampara, Batticaloa, Matale, Trincomalee, Nuwara-Eliya, Hambantota and Matara districts
-
Features4 days agoIS THIS THE FINISH OF THE SRI LANKAN ELEPHANT?
-
News4 days agoElectricity tariff reduction: 20% inadequate says consumers
-
Editorial5 days agoGovt. taken for a ride again ?
-
Editorial6 days agoLies and mandates
-
Business2 days agoCustomer service to new heights with Digitalized Contact Centre for Union Bank
-
Features4 days agoPaddy-Rice Data Gap: How much grown? How much sold?
-
Editorial4 days agoThe rice crisis
-
Features6 days agoClean Sri Lanka environmentally, socially and psychologically