Rural boxers to the fore in 2009

Anushka WITHANAGE

Looking back on the year 2009, it was one that smiled down benignly on boxing. Locally, there were some significant achievements with rural talent punching a point that talent was not confined to the Colombo. Schools but that there was the brawn and the brains of rural youth to make the grade.

Notably, Sariputhra College, Ahangama and Pilimatalawa Central College impressed during 2009 to strike a chord for outstation talent. At international level Sri Lanka's golden girls were Nilmini Jayasinghe and Anusha Kodituwakku. Who kept the Sri Lanka Flag fluttering. Nilmini landed a gold medal at the international Women's Boxing tournament held at St Petersburg in Russia while Anusha won the bronze medal.

Following is a flashback of 2009 boxing achievements:

Results - Local School Boxing Meets

LV Jayaweera Boxing Meet held at Pilimatalawa Central College.

B.N.J. Perera of the St Sylvester's College was named best Boxer and RAY Lakmal of Vidyarathana VVP was picked best loser and Peradeniya Central College won the overall championship in this meet.

TB Jayah Boxing Meet from held at Wickramashila N.S. Griulla.

B.N.J Perera of the St Sylvester's College was named best Boxer and T.D Ranasinghe of the Vidyarathana VVP selected as best loser and Peradeniya Central College won the overall championship in this meet.

Stubbs Shield (National School Games) held at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

N.B.A.S.N. Kumara of the Mahanama College, Kandy was named Junior best Boxer and P.D Ranasinghe of the Dharmaraja College selected as Junior best loser.

G.H.P. Samarasinghe of the Vidyarathana VVP was named Senior best Boxer and W.D Suduwelikanda of Royal College selected as Senior best loser. Most Recently Affiliated Schools Best Boxer M.A Fazam, Mohamad Samijit of Azhar Central College.

ABA Cadet Boxing Championships held at Royal College Colombo.

R.I Warnasuriya of the Vidyartha College, Kandy was selected Best Boxer (boys) and V.G.L Danushka of Mahanama College, Kandy picked Best Loser (Boys). A.W.W Anuradhi of the Sariputhra College, Ahangama was selected Best Boxer (Women's) and O.D.S Dilrukshi of Taxila Central College named Best Loser (Women's).

Vidyarathna College Kandy Champion (Mens) was won Herburt Embuldeniya Challenge Trophy and Sariputhra College, Ahangama Champion (Women) won the Nieva Embuldeniya Challenge Trophy.

ABA School and Young Boys and Girls Boxing Championships held at Veyangoda Central College.

D.N.G. Perera of the St Sylvester's College, Kandy was selected Best Boxer (Boys) and V.G.L Danushka of Vidyarathana VVP, Horana picked Best Loser (Boys). M.A.T.H Jayatissa of the Veyangoda Central College was selected Best Boxer of Women's event.

Vidyarathana VVP Champion (Boy's) was won Dian Gomes Challenge Trophy and Sariputhra College, Ahangama Champion (Women).

Youth Boys and Girls Boxing Championships held at Veyangoda Central College.

A.C Chandrasiri of the Vidyarathana VVP was named best Boxer and E.R.M Ekanayake of the Wickramashila NS picked as best loser and Kingswood College, Kandy won the boys overall championship in this meet. R.M.C.C Rajaguru of the Viharamahadevi BC was named best Boxer of the women's event.

Novices Meet held at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium

H.S Danushka of the Air Force was selected Best Boxer (Men's) and N.G.S Jayaweera of KDBA picked Best Loser (Men's). Nadeesha Erandi of the MAS Southern BC was selected Best Boxer of (Women's) and V.W.K.S Kumari of the Polonnaruwa BA named Best Loser (Women's).

Intermediate Boxing Meet held Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

N.G.S Jayaweera of the Kalutara District BA was named Best Boxer (Mens) and W.A.C.I Perera of Army picked Best Loser (Men's). B.N Erandathi of the MAS Southern BC was selected Best Boxer (Women's) and A.G.N Niranjala Jayathilake of Schools Swarnajothi named Best Loser (Women's).

Layton Cup Boxing Meet from held at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium.

M.K.A Sanjeewa of the Slimline BC was selected Best Boxer (Men's) and P.D Suresh of Unichela BC picked Best Loser (Men's). S.D.N.S Karunarathna of the Army was named Best Boxer (Women's) and K.H.E.G Silva of the MAS Southern BC picked Best Loser (Women's).

ABA Clifford Cup Boxing Championships at Sugathada Indoor Stadium

R.M.T Dakshilath of the Slimline BC was selected Best Boxer (Men's) and W.P.D Nandasena of Army picked Best Loser (Men's). M.A.T.H Jayatissa of the Slimline SC was selected Best Boxer (Womens) and K.H.E.G Silva of the MAS Southern BC picked Best Loser (Women's). Army was Champion Team in this meet.

ABA National Boxing Championships held at Sugatadasa Indoor Stadium

R.G.S. Kumarasinghe of the Navy was selected Best Boxer (Men's) and R.M.T Dakshilath of Slimline picked Best Loser (Men's). W.A.S Shanthika of the Police was selected Best Boxer (Womens) and B.G.S Mihirani of the Navy picked Best Loser (Women's). Nilmini Jayasinghe of Slimline BC was most outstanding Boxer of the year and Army was most Successful Club of the year.

Participants at International Meets in 2009 International Women Boxing Tournament held at St Petersburg in Russia in 2009

Anush Kodithuwakku - 46 Kg (Bronze Medal)

Nilmini Jayasinha - 51 Kg ( Gold Medal )

3rd Asian Indoor Games held at Hanoi Vietnam.

Anusha Kodituwakku - 48 Kg ( Bronze Medal) Nilmini Jayasinghe - 51 Kgs