ASBC Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships Murajudeen out; Warnakulasooriya, Jayathissa add to SL’s Medal Tally

Jayathissa celebrates his victory

By Allaam Ousman 

Sri Lanka enjoyed mixed fortunes on the second day of the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships, winning two while losing three quarter-final bouts at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday. 

The second day of the competition saw a card of 11 bouts with the host country featuring in five of the contests to open their campaign. 

Weliketiye Gedara Warnakulasooriya began with an impressive win against Kyrgyzstan’s Anarbekov Anaraly while following a couple of losses Ampa Witana Arachilage Jayathissa lifted the spirits of home fans with an aggressive performance against Saudi Arabia’s Al Haidary Mohammed. 

However, the biggest disappointment was when one of Sri Lanka’s top medal prospects Tuan Aazil Murajudeen crashed out after losing to an Indian pugilist Mohit.

The only consolation for Sri Lanka is that they have increased their medal tally to 18, after being assured of 16 following the draw.

A product of Peradeniya Central College, southpaw, Warnakulasooriya (48kg) displayed superb technique and temperament being in control of the contest from the opening bell. He unsettled his adversary who kept his hands low with three-punch combinations staggering him with left crosses in the first and third rounds to force ‘eight’ counts. 

The Sri Lankan was composed in both attack and defence especially when the tempo of the fight went up in the final round to secure a unanimous points decision. 

Warnakulasooriya and Anaraly trade blows

Thathsara (51kg) and Hettiarachchi (54kg) were outpointed by technically superior southpaw opponents from Kazakhstan. The taller Tangatar Dossymzhan towered above his smaller rival comfortably outboxing Thathsara scoring heavily with uppercuts and hooks, forcing an ‘eight’ count in the final round. 

Hettiarachchi also failed to get under the skin of Bakhadur Aldiyar who kept him at bay displaying good rhythm. Hettiarachchi did attempt to step up the tempo in round two but failed to land a punch in anger, missing with right hand leads. The Kazak boxer underlined his superiority by forcing two ‘eight’ counts to the face and body.

Jayathissa (57kg) in contrast seemed eager to finish off his Saudi opponent Al Haidary Mohammed in the first round. He went hell for leather from the opening but most of his blows did not land on target. Unfazed by the aggressive tactics of Jayathissa, Al Haidary composed himself and despite being forced to back peddle fought back in the second round with counter punches. 

• Weliketiye Gedara Warnakulasooriya began with an impressive win against Kyrgyzstan’s Anarbekov Anaraly while following a couple of losses Ampa Witana Arachilage Jayathissa lifted the spirits of home fans with an aggressive performance against Saudi Arabia’s Al Haidary Mohammed

If points were awarded for gallantry, the Saudi boxer would have won it easily as he stood his ground and gave as much as he got. However, he was fortunate the referee did not see some of the stunning blows which he absorbed but required mandatory ‘eight’ counts.

Perhaps, inspired by Jayathissa, Sri Lanka’s leading junior pugilist Murajudeen (60kg) of Zahira College, Colombo, lost his bearings against a taller Indian adversary Mohith. His tactic of displaying overconfidence and aggression backfired miserably as Mohith calmly sidestepped his attacks and countered with stinging right jabs against the smaller southpaw. 

Murajudeen virtually engaged in a street fight with the Indian perhaps playing to the gallery throwing aside technique and ring craft. He was not only wayward with his punches but was often caught on the ropes helplessly which forced an ‘eight’ count on one occasion in the second round. He returned the compliment early in the third round landing a rare power punch on target as Murajudeen stepped up the ante realising he needed a knockout to win. But the crafty Indian maintained his composure to earn an unanimous points decision. 

Five Sri Lanka boxers are scheduled to compete in the quarter-finals today beginning at 1.00 p.m. They are Heshan Jayasinghe (67kg) vs Saudi Arabia’s Al Qassimi Esmail, Malith Bandara (71kg) vs Kazakhstan’s Kadyr Agazhan, Yazmin Mohammed Usaith (75kg) vs Saudi Arabia’s Al Mowalad Nayif, W.A.G.M. Bandara (86kg) vs New Zealand’s Viney Roman in the Youth Men category, and Loganathan Kagenthini (57kg) vs India’s Shivani in a semi-final clash.

India’s Mohith lands a blow on Murajudeen

Results 
(Youth Men): 48kg - Al Subhi Feras (Saudi Arabia) beat Nea Sovahn (Cambodia) WP 5:0, Weliketiye Gedara Warnakulasooriya (Sri Lanka) beat Anarbekov Anaraly (Kyrgyzstan) WP 5:0, 51kg - Tangatar Dossymzhan (Kazakhstan) beat Ilangasinghage Nilusha Thathsara (Sri Lanka) WP 5:0, 54kg - Bakhadur Aldiyar (Kazakhstan) beat Vidusha Sansitha Hettiarachchi (Sri Lanka) WP 5:0, 57kg - Bulavkin Danil (Kyrgyzstan) beat Al Sedrani Bader Saeed Ali Saeed (UAE) WP 5:0, Nygmet Nygman (Kazakhstan) beat Angus Friswell (Australia) RSC R2, Ampa Witana Arachilage Jayathissa (Sri Lanka) beat Al Haidary Mohammed (Saudi Arabia) WP 5:0, 60kg - Mohit Mohit (IBA-India) beat Tuan Aazil Murajudeen (Sri Lanka) WP 5:0, Ergeshov Erlan (Kyrgyzstan) beat Amarjargal Tengis (Mongolia) WP 5:0, Tortubek Adilet (Kazakhstan) beat Khojabekov Zoir (Tajikistan) WP 5:0. (Women): 48kg - Kumari Chanchal (IBA-India) beat Al Ghamdi Alanood (Saudi Arabia) WP 5:0.