Two Boxers leave for Asian Olympic trials

Two of Sri Lanka's most experienced boxers Kamal Sameera and Manju Wanniarachchi both from Slimline BC left the island yesterday to participate in the second Asian Olympic Trials to be worked off in Bangkok, Thailand.

Wanniarachchi who will compete in the 51 kgs weight class event is a talented boxer who had previously captained the Sri Lanka team at several international meets. He came into the limelight at the age of 20 when he bagged a silver medal at the 1999 South Asian Games in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The former schoolboy of Vidyartha College, Kandy produced a repeat performance at the 2004 South Asian Games boxing meet worked off in Pakistan. He followed up this with another remarkable performance by winning a silver medal at the Kings Cup meet held in Thailand in 2005.

Kamal Sameera who will compete in the 48 kgs weight class event has also made his presence felt on few occasions and his biggest achievement probably was when he won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships in Scotland 2005.

He had earlier won a silver medal at the South Asian Games in Pakistan in 2004 and was the best boxer at the National School Games in 2002.

Anuruddha Ratnayake also from Slimline BC had already booked a place in the Olympic Games following his magnificent performance at the recent World Championships held in Chicago, United States of America.

The two boxers will be accompanied by the Cuban coach Raphayal Illyas, assistant coach Wasantha Kumara and manager Palitha Peiris.

C.D