Army’s Chandrika enters semi-final

Senior National Boxing Championships:

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Reigning champion Chandrika Guruge of Sri Lanka Army BC launched her defence for the light fly weight under 48 kg title with an impressive performance on the second day of the 83rd Senior National Boxing championships conducted by the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) of Sri Lanka and continued at the Sugathadasa indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Guruge who has represented the country in several international tournaments used her experience and successfully overcame her opponent Kosala Nilmini from Slimline BC on points 11-7 to reach the semifinals in this weight category.

Guruge started off rather cautiously but got into her usual rhythm in the second round and went on to completely dominate the proceedings during the final round. In the other quarterfinal K. H. E. de Silva of MAS Southern BC had the better of D. K. Hewawitharana of Sri Lanka Army BC on points 18-6.

In the light bantam weight under 52 kg quarterfinal event M. D. Maduwanthi of Sri Lanka Army BC defeated V. M. P. Dassanayake of Ghandara BC on points 22-4. In addition N. P. Pellekumbura of Ghandara BC defeated S. A. V. Priyangani of Sri Lanka Army BC on points 13-1.

Meanwhile in the men’s competition the quarterfinal line up of the light heavy weight under 81 kg and under 91 kg weight categories were completed with all favourites making steady progress.

Even then R. D. S. C. Rathmalgoda of Sri Lanka Navy BC went through some anxious moments before overcoming his opponent W. A. L. Sandun of Sri Lanka Air Force BC on points 27-21 in a close encounter that almost went the full distance before the referee decided to stop the contest in the final round. In contrast S. H. R. Kumara of Sri Lanka Army BC cruised to an easy 9-1 victory on points over G. T. T. Fernando from Unichella in the same weight category while P. P. D. N. Premasinghe of Sri Lanka Army BC also joined the semifinal line with a 14-3 victory on points against H. G. Ariyaratne of Seevali BC.

In the light heavy weight under 81 kg quarterfinals A. H. Athukorale from Sri Lanka Army BC defeated H. G. V. Alexander from Vidyarathna University while A. P. Jayasena also from Sri Lanka Army BC had the better of D. R. Narampanawa from Sri Lanka Police BC.