Army pugilists dominate semi finals

By M. Shamil Amit

Out of the 17 of the 20 semi-final bouts which were completed Army BC had nine of their pugilists advancing to the semis.

They were closely followed by MAS Slimline BC who had five boxers with two from Air Force BC and one from Navy.

In the women’s category saw MAS Unichela and Air Force BC fighting it out but the former had five of their boxers advancing to finals as against two to the latter. Army BC had two of their boxers qualifying with one each from MAS Linea and MAS Thurulie.

The curtains of the Men’s and Women’s Layton Cup Boxing Meet will come down today with the finals scheduled to be worked off from 2.00 pm onwards. The chief guest will be Dian Gomes, President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka.

Women Qualifiers:
Light Flyweight 48kg – A.G.M.A. Gamage (MAS Linea) and R.K.A.A. Ranasinghe (MAS Thurulie). Flyweight 51kg – P.K.R. Kaushalya and K.A.K. Nilmini both of MAS Unichela.

Bantamweight 54kg – M.P.S.S. Cooray (Air Force). Featherweight 57kg – R.A.N. Pushpakumari (MAS Unichela) and L.G. Chandrika (Army). Light Welterweight 64kg – P.K. Sumudu (Army) and A.M.P. Atapattu (MAS Unichela). Welterweight 69kg – R.S. Dilini (Air Force). Middleweight 75kg – K.A.G.N. Kaluarachchi (Air Force) and I.W.S.S. Chandrasekera (MAS Unichela).

Men Qualifiers:
Light Flyweight 49kg – J.M.N. Jeevankumara (Air Force) and M.P.G. Sanjeewa Nuwan (Army). 
Flyweight 52kg – R.M.P. Dharmasena (Army) and M.R. Sandaruwan (MAS Slimline). 
Bantamweight 56kg – N.K. Amarawansa (MAS Slimline) and W.R.T. Weerakoon (Army). 
Lightweight 60kg – N.B.A.J. Vimukthi Kumara (Army) and K.A.S. Jayampathi (MAS Slimline). 
Light Welterweight 64kg –R.W.M.S. Rajakaruna (Army) and I.P.D.C. Udayakumara (Air Force).
Welterweight 69kg – P.A.I. Rajapakse MAS Slimline) and P.D.D. Maduranga (Army). Middleweight 75kg – G.G.D.A. Gunasekera (MAS Slimline) and D.L.P. Kumara (Navy). 
Light Heavyweight 81kg – W.A.R. Sandakelum (Army). 
Heavyweight 91kg – A.M.I.H. Abeysinghe (MAS Slimline) and I.B.N.S. Bandara (Army)

Caption:
Action from the women 54kg bout between winner M.P.S.S. Cooray (Blue - Air Force) and H.N.S. Thalgaspitiya (MAS Unichela).
Action from the women 51kg bout between winner K.A.K. Nilmini (Red – MAS Unichela) and K.K.I.T. Perera (Air Force).

Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe