Jeewan and Chandrika best from the rest
Best Boxer of the Layton Cup meet J.M.D. Jeewankumara of Air Force BC (Red) delivers a southpaw in the Men's Light Flyweight 49kg bout against Best Loser M.P.G. Sanjeewa Nuwan of Army BC (Blue)
The 77th Men’s and Women’s Layton Cup Boxing meet which concluded at the Royal MAS Boxing Arena yesterday saw two pugilists from the forces J.M.N. Jeewankumara of Air Force BC and L.G. Chandrika of Army BC bagging the Best Boxers award in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively.
Jeewankumara outfoxed M.P.G. Sanjeewa Nuwan of Army BC in a thriller of the light flyweight 49kg bout with the decision ending on a split decision in favour of Jeewankumara while Sanjeewa for his spirited effort was adjudged the best loser of the meet.
In the women’s category Chandrika got the better of R.A.N. Pushpakumari of MAS Unichela BC in the featherweight 57kg bout with ease and P.K.R. Kaushalya of MAS Unichela BC was adjudged the best loser in this category.
Meanwhile from the ten bouts conducted in the men’s category saw Army BC making a clean sweep bagging seven gold medals with the winners being R.M.P. Dharmasena (Flyweight 52kg), W.R.T. Weerakkody (Bantamweight 56kg), N.B.A.J. Vimukthi Perera (Lightweight 60kg), R.W.M.S.B. Rajakaruna (Light Welterweight 64kg), P.D.D. Maduranga (Welterweight 69kg), W.A.R. Sandakelum (Light Heavyweight 81kg) and A.R.B.E. Tillekeratne (Super Heavyweight 91+kg).
K.A.K. Nilmini receives a blow from Kaushalya in the Women's 51kg Flyweight bout - Pix by Amila Gamage
The other three gold medals were won by J.M.D. Jeewankumara (Air Force BC – Light Flyweight 49kg), D.L.P.R. Kumara (Navy BC – Middleweight 75kg) and A.M.I.H. Abeysinghe (MAS Slimline BC – Heavyweight 91kg).
In the women’s category from the nine finals that were conducted saw MAS Unichela BC coming out on top winning four gold medals followed by Army BC with the three gold medals and one each by MAS Thuruli BC and Air Force BC).
MAS Unichela gold medal medals winners were K.A.K. Nilmini (Flyweight 51kg), H.M.K.G.L. Udayangani (Welterweight 69kg), I.W.S.S. Chandrasekera (Middleweight 75kg) and G.D.M.H. Jayadeva (Light Heavyweight 81kg).
The Army BC winners L.G. Chandrika (Featherweight 57kg), T.S. Imandi (Lightweight 60kg) and P.K. Sumudu (Light Welterweight 64kg) with MAS Thuruli BC and Air Force BC winners were R.K.A.A. Ranasinghe (Light Flyweight 48kg) and M.P.S.S. Cooray (Bantamweight 54kg).