Army regains Clifford Cup

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka Army BC ‘A’ team regained the Clifford Cup while emerging overall champions with a total of 38 points at the 81st annual meet organised by the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) of Sri Lanka and concluded at the Sugathadasa indoor stadium yesterday.

The meet also served as the final trial to select the competitors for the upcoming dual boxing championship against Russia which is scheduled for October 25 at this same venue.

Sri Lanka Army BC produced five winners on the final day and finished well ahead of their arch rivals Slimline BC who were pushed into the third place with a total of 25 points. Sri Lanka Army BC ‘B’ team secured the runners up position while collecting 36 points.

However Manju Wanniarachchi of Slimline BC ‘A’ was named as the best boxer following his superb effort against D. M. Samarasekera of Slimline BC ‘B’ in the bantam weight under 54 kgs final. In fact Samarasekera was picked as the best loser in this meet.

In the women’s championship S. A. N. Weeraratne of Slimline BC was named as the best boxer after overcoming S. T. S. Nirosha from Sri Lanka Army BC on points 17-12 in the light bantam weight under 52 kgs final. Nirosha was also rewarded for her efforts and was selected as the best loser in the women’s championship.

H. B. A. Bandara set the pace for Army BC by winning the super heavy weight over 91 title against his teammate M. I. Mansar who retired during the first round. A. S. Athukorale followed up with a pleasing performance in the light heavy weight under 81 kgs final as he overcame his teammate P. S. Weeratunga who was forced to retire during the first round.

M. A. Divaratna further extended Army BC’s dominance in this meet while taking the middle weight under 75 kgs title over his teammate I. R. Balasuriya who retired during the first round.

In another one sided contest A. G. N. Bandara from Sri Lanka Army BC had the better of his teammate R. Jayaraja in the light welter weight under 64 kgs final.

The last years champions Slimline BC of course had the satisfaction of winning the welter weight under 69 kgs title through M. M. Suranga and the feather weight under 57 kgs title through the experienced Kamal Sameera.

Sarathchandra Illeyperuma Chief Control Officer of A and E Lanka limited who are also the main sponsors for boxing in Sri Lanka was the chief guest and distributed the awards.