Sri Lankan team in the South Asian Games
Sri Lankan team is ready to box in the South Asian Games
The boxing tournament of the South Asian Games will be held between 13-16 February in Guwahati, Shillong where the Sri Lankan delegation has got chances to get finals as well. The country will be sending maximum number of three women and seven men boxers to the multisport event to India.
The last edition of the Layton Cup was their main selection event to the South Asian Games where their coaches are expected several medals from the team. Sri Lanka achieved one silver and three bronze medals in the last edition of the South Asian Games which was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2010.
Anusha Dilrukshi Kodituwakku is Sri Lanka’s most successful woman boxer who was quarter-finalist in the 2010 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and achieved several medals in the international competitions. The 38-year-old veteran Flyweight class (51 kg) boxer can show her skills in the first ever women tournament of the South Asian Games.
National Champion and Layton Cup winner Viushika Prabadi moved up to the Lightweight class (60 kg) following her participation in lower categories and will be showing her skills in the international competitions after a short break. The 24-year-old boxer is member of the national team since 2011 and has got also experiences to get medal in India.
Nilanthi Andaraweera Arachchige is a new face in the national team who replaced experienced athletes such as ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships bronze medallist Dapana Durage Shiromali Weerarathna and two-time National Champion Galbokka Hewage Thanuja Nilakshi Dharmasena.
The 24-year-old Muthurawellage Ranasinghe Thiwanka Sandaruwan received the right to fight for Sri Lanka in the Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg) following his gold medal at the Layton Cup. Ishan Ranjeewa Senevirathna Bandara is also gold medallist from that selection event who can show his boxing knowledge in the Men’s Flyweight class (52 kg).
Sri Lanka’s Bantamweight class (60 kg) hope Ruwan Thilina Weerakoddi is an experienced boxer in the national level, claimed several national titles but in spite of the fact he will be turning to 28 soon, he has not got enough international bouts yet. President’s Cup bronze medallist 25-year-old Gayan Sanjeewa Naiduralage has got experiences in the international competitions but will be fighting at the Lightweight class (60 kg) at the very first time.
Commonwealth Games competitor Dinidu Dushan Saparamadu was gold medallist in the 2014 Lion’s Cup in Colombo and won contest in a strong Cuban international event as well. The 23-year-old Slimline boxer moved up to the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) and can prepares great battles in India.
Navy’s Ruwangala Gedara Sisira Kumarasinghe is Sri Lanka’s most experienced boxer who competed in the 2011 and 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships and won his opening bout in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Veteran Divaratne A. Mallawa will be their Middleweight class (75 kg) athlete who won the last edition of the Layton Cup.