Sports

Angelo and Nirushika clinch best boxer titles at Novices Tournament

Published

2 years ago

2024/05/18

Title winners posing with officials.

S.P.P. Angelo of St. Sylvester’s BC and Nirushika Jayathissa of Up Hill BC were adjudged the Best Boxers of the Novices Boxing Tournament held at the Royal MAS Arena in Colombo. The tournament, organised by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), featured a record number of 186 boxers from 27 clubs.

Rohan de Silva, Group Director of McLarens Group of Companies and President of Sri Lanka Badminton, was the chief guest on the final day, presenting the special awards alongside BASL President Dian Gomes. The five-day event showcased a high standard of boxing with intense, fast-paced matches, setting a competitive tone for the new season.

Angelo and Nirushika Jayathissa, both 19, were recognised for their exceptional technique and ring craft, earning the Best Boxer titles in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. Angelo, a two-time Stubbs Shield silver medallist, demonstrated remarkable skill, winning all his bouts with ease. His performance in the featherweight (under 57kg) final was particularly notable, where he knocked out Chandrapala from Air Force with a perfectly timed right hook in the final round.

Nirushika, representing Uphill BC and a gold medallist at the Youth Championships 2023, impressed the judges despite having only one year of boxing experience. She outpointed seasoned soldier Virajini in the featherweight (under 57kg) category, winning by unanimous decision.

For the first time in Sri Lankan boxing history, cash awards were given to men and women Best Boxers of the event.

The tournament also recognised other notable performances. Army’s Adhikari was awarded the Best Loser’s award after a close 3:2 decision loss in the welterweight (under 67kg) bout against MM Paris of St. Sylvester’s BC. In the women’s category, 19-year-old Sanduni Imesha of Air Force, a product of Naradeniya CC, Kamburupitiya, and a gold medallist at the Youth Girls meet, was named Best Loser for her valiant effort in the light flyweight (under 50kg) final against Devindi from Hanwella Rajasinghe BC.

In terms of team achievements, Army Archers men’s and Army women’s teams topped the medals tally with four golds each. St. Sylvester’s BC secured three gold medals, while Army Red, Army Blue, and other Army teams collectively won ten golds in the 13-weight men’s competition. The Air Force women’s team also performed strongly, finishing second overall with three gold medals.

Final results

MEN

Minimum Weight (46-48kg):PKU Silva (SL Army Archers) beat AAN de Silva (West Coast BC) WP 5:0

Fly Weight (48-51kg):DDM Sampath (SL Army Archers) beat SPWGC Rathnasiri (SL Navy Bismark) WP 5:0

Bantam Weight (51-54kg):SPBR Premalal (SL Army Blue) beat KWSMA Dasunpriya (SL Army Archers) WP 3:2

Feather Weight (54-57kg):SPP Angelo (St Sylvester’s BC) beat BMM Chandrapala (SL Air Force) KO R3

Light Weight (57-60kg):RM Pushpakumara (SL Army Archers) beat HMGCN Dissanayake (SL Army Red) WP 3:2

Light Welter Weight (60-63.5kg):TDD Upawansha (SL Army) beat AGVH Jayasinghe (St Sylvester’s BC) WP 4:1

Welter Weight (63.5-67kg):MM Paris (St Sylvester’s BC) beat AADD Adhikari (SL Army Red) WP 3:2

Light Middle Weight (67-71kg):AACS Kumara (SL Army Archers) beat V Ratheesh (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) RSC R1

Middle Weight (71-75kg):YM Usaith (St Sylvester’s BC) beat LGM Bandara (SL Navy Bismark) RSC R1

Light Heavy Weight (75-80kg):HMMM Herath (SL Army) beat PA Samarasinghe (SL Navy Bismark) RSC R1

Cruiser Weight (80-86kg):MDK Silva (Back2Fit) beat JMIPP Kumara (SL Army Red) WP 4:1

Heavy Weight (86-92kg):WPSK Ranasinghe (SL Army Red) beat R Deshmikanth (Omega Line) RSC R1

Super Heavy Weight (92+kg):HMCT Weerakoon (SL Army Blue) beat KG Pitampe (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) RSC-I R1

WOMEN

Minimum Weight (45-48Wkg):AGHD Premasiri (SL Air Force) beat EMSC Chandrasiri (Jayawardenapura University) RSC R1

Light Fly Weight (48-50kg):MDK Devindi (Hanwella Rajasinghe BC) beat NWAS Imesha (SL Air Force) WP 5:0

Fly Weight (50-52kg):DMKT Dissanayaka (SL Air Force) beat WAW Nawodya (Sivali BC) RSC R1

Bantam Weight (52-54kg):EMKH Ekanayaka (SL Air Force) beat KAHS Dilshani (SL Army) RSC R1

Feather Weight (54-57kg):RDNP Jayathissa (Uphill) beat PHI Virajani (SLA) WP 5:0

Light Weight (57-60kg):S Rajkumar (BA) beat SIR Pathiraja (Hemamali BC) WP 5:0

Light Welter Weight (60-63kg):JDN Rathnasiri (Back2Fit) beat LDS Silva (SL Army) ABD R1

Welter Weight (63-66kg):PADR Sanjana (SL Navy) beat LDD Vimarshana (SL Army Red) WP 5:0

Light Middle Weight (66-70kg):JMR Rasanjali (SL Army) beat UGNH Jayathissa (University Peradeniya) RSC R1

Middle Weight (70-75kg):NMMS Narasinghe (SL Army) beat EMI Bandara (Veyangoda BC) RSC R2

Heavy Weight (81+kg):HADP Wathsala (SL Army) beat MADDS Kulasinghe (SL Army Blue) RSC R1

(ABD- Abandon, KO Knockout, Rn- Round number, RSC- Referee Stops Contest, RSC-I – Referee Stops Contest – Injury, WP- Win on points.)

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Related Topics:Boxing Tournament Featured S.P.P. Angelo

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Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee

Published

19 mins ago

2026/05/21

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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.

The members of the new selection committee are:

Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman

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Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative

Published

33 mins ago

2026/05/21

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The visiting Afghanistan women's team will also attend the final of the Women's T20 World Cup

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will host an Afghanistan Refugee Women’s Team for a tour beginning on June 22. The programme will include T20 matches and high-performance training opportunities and will be delivered in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the MCC Foundation. The visiting players will also attend the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord’s, scheduled to be held on July 5.

The tour is significant because the visiting squad comprises former Afghanistan women cricketers who had to leave the country following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, after which women were effectively excluded from sport and public life. Many of the players eventually resettled in Australia, where they have continued to pursue cricket. An Afghanistan women’s team played against a ‘Cricket Without Borders XI’ at the Junction Oval in January 2025 ahead of the Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG, a game that was streamed by Cricket Australia.

The ECB said the tour aimed not only to provide competitive opportunities but also to reaffirm cricket’s commitment to inclusivity. “Since being displaced from Afghanistan in 2021, these players have shown extraordinary resilience in continuing their cricket journeys, in incredibly challenging circumstances,” Clare Connor, ECB Deputy CEO and Managing Director of England Women, said.

“We have worked with It’s Game On to build an itinerary and a set of experiences that we hope will be enjoyable and memorable. We are also delighted that the squad will attend the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

“Cricket has a responsibility to stand for inclusion and opportunity, and we are proud to be hosting this tour and supporting the players in deepening their connection to the game.”

The relocation and continued support of the players has been facilitated in part by It’s Game On, a global sports consultancy co-founded by former Australia cricketer Mel Jones and Emma Staples, along with Dr Catherine Orway. Jones, in particular, played a pivotal role in helping the players relocate to Australia. Her organisation has worked with international sporting bodies on initiatives centred around equity and opportunities for displaced female athletes.

“This tour is a major step forward, but also highlights how much work remains,” Jones said.

“These players have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to the game, despite everything that has been taken from them. They deserve more opportunities like this; they deserve to be recognised as part of the global cricket community. Moments like this matter, but we need to see plans for sustained and meaningful action beyond this year.”

[Cricbuzz]

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DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/21

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DR Congo have qualified for the Fifa World Cup for the first time since 1974 (BBC)

The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.

Preparations have been moved to Belgium amid the upsurge, which is thought to have killed more than 130 people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, but said it was not at pandemic level.

Jerry Kalemo, a spokesperson for the national football team, told international media that pre-tournament games in Europe would go ahead as planned, as the squad gears up for their first World Cup since 1974.

DR Congo are due to play friendly matches against Denmark, on 3 June in Belgium, and Chile, on 9 June in Spain, ahead of the World Cup finals.

A spokesperson for the DR Congo team told the Reuters news agency that the squad’s training camp had been cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed by the US, who are hosting the World Cup this summer, along with Mexico and Canada.

The US’ public health agency has banned entry from non-Americans who have been in the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days, in response to the Ebola outbreak

All DR Congo’s players, as well as the team’s French coach, Sébastien Desabre, are based outside the central African country and will therefore not be affected by the restrictions now the training camp has been cancelled.

The high-profile event in Kinshasa was supposed to have been attended by fans, along with DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, according to Reuters.

Kinshasa is roughly 1,800 km (1,120m) away from the eastern Ituri province, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak. There have not yet been any reported cases in the city.

On Wednesday, the WHO said 139 people were thought to have died, out of 600 suspected cases. However, on the same day, Congolese health minister Samuel Roger Kamba told state broadcaster RTNC TV that authorities had registered 159 deaths.

(BBC Sports)