Sri Lanka to host Asian U22 and Youth Boxing meets

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka is set to host the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships for the first time, marking a significant milestone since the country last hosted the 3rd Asian Boxing Championships in 1969. The event is scheduled to take place in Colombo from May 10 to 24, 2025.

Reflecting on Sri Lanka’s boxing history, the 1969 championships were held at the newly constructed Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. Under the leadership of then ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) President Frederick Obeyesekere and Secretary Eddie Gray, Sri Lankan boxers achieved notable success, with H.K. Karunaratne securing a gold medal and H.M. Marzook earning a bronze.

In recent years, Sri Lanka has made a notable return to the Asian boxing scene. At the last ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, 21-year-old Umayanga Mihiran clinched a historic bronze medal in the men’s flyweight (51kg) category, ending A 37-year medal drought.

Under the leadership of Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara, President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), the country has intensified its focus on boxing.