Vidyartha clinch Phelps Shield

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Vidyartha College, Kandy obtained 29 points to emerge winners and walked away with the Phelps Memorial Challenge Shield in the Junior National Boxing Championship for 2011 which concluded at the Royal College boxing ring recently.

Sri Lanka School Boxing Association (SLSBA) in collaboration with Amateur Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (ABASL) conducted the championship which is considered to be the apex tournament for the junior boxers in the country.

Kingswood College, also from Kandy won the second place, collecting 16 points, while the third place went to Sumangala College, Panadura with 12 points. W.D. Mendis of Slimline Boxing Club was adjudged the Best Boxer of the Tournament while the Best Looser award went on to M. R. Sandaruwan of Unichela Boxing Club.

The high standard of boxing prowess shown by the Vidyarthians enabled them to win the Stubbs Shield in last year's Youth Championships as well. MAS Linea Clothing has to be given the credit for coaching Vidyartha boxers.

Male boxers from age categories 17 to 19 years competed in ten weight categories. Amateurs were also allowed to participate in the meet.

The championship was conducted according to the 2010 AIBA rules.

Clubs/Schools were allowed to enter a maximum of 10 boxers per weight category. All Winners, Runner-ups and Semi-Finalists received cups, medals and certificates.

The inaugural ABA Junior Championship was won by St. Sylvesters' College, Kandy, with young boxers being coached by Derrick Raymond. Later in 2008, St. Sylvesters College won the Shield again as well as the Best Boxer of the tournament award, the L. Mc. D. Robinson Challenge Cup.