Debutants MAS Silueta in fine form

Chris Dhambarage

MAS Silueta BC made a fine debut as they stole the limelight on the opening day of the Amateur Boxing Association men's and women's intermediate championships which commenced at the Sugathadasa indoor Stadium ring in Colombo yesterday.

MAS Silueta BC fielding a contingent for the first time produced two winners in the form of P. D. Suresh and R. M. T. J. K. Rathnayake with both progressing towards the second round of their respective weight categories. Suresh was probably the most impressive as he overcame the more fancied A. S. V. Wickremage from Peradeniya BC by a solitary point 21-20 in an exciting preliminary round contest of the fly weight under 51 kgs weight category.

He joined M. U. K. Guruge of Vidyartha who beat T. J. Wanigaratne from Sri Sumangala BC on points 24-13 more convincingly in the same weight category.

The others who are in contention for a place in the second round of the fly weight under 51 kgs weight class are M. M. Wijeratne (Peradeniya BC), P. L. A. Sandaruwan (Army BC), K. A. D. Madushan (Silverline BC), W. R. H. Wickremaratne (Sri Palee BC), M. V. Seneviratne (Polonnaruwa BC), K. G. P. Kumara (Army BC), S. P. Gamage (Navy BC) and D. C. Kumara (Army BC)

Earlier R. M. T. J. K. Rathnayake from MAS Silueta gave his side a flying start by overcoming D. P. Stephen on points 25-20 in the light fly weight under 48 kgs weight class event.

In the same weight class L. S. Lakmal from Slimline BC put up a splendid performance as he knocked out G. A. Gunatilleke of Sri Lanka Air Force BC during round three. In addition C. S. Weerasinghe of Mahanama BC beat S. M. R. Kumara (Air Force BC) on points 30-7, A. S. Kalpage (Peradeniya BC) beat W. D. Dhananjaya (Air Force BC) on points 14-2 and V. T. Jayasinghe had the better of C. P. Nilanga (NBC) with the referee deciding to stop the contest during round one.

Meanwhile in the light weight under 60 kgs weight class T. U. Madushanka (Unichela BC), A. H. Weerawansa (Army BC), L. S. Jayasinghe (Peradeniya BC) and P. D. Nandasena (Army BC) recorded convincing victories to move towards the second round.

The meet will be continued today at the same venue with the men's quarterfinals of the 48 kgs, 51 kgs, 54 kgs, 57 kgs, 60 kgs 69 kgs, 75 kgs and the women's quarterfinals in the 46 kgs weight class to be worked off.