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Slimline does it in style again
By M. Shamil Amit
Slimline Boxing Club Pannala with 35 points emerged the champions for the second successive time at the 79th Boxing Nationals concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. Way behind in second place was Army 'A' with 24 points followed by Air Force 13 points.

The champion team had six of their boxers entering the finals in various categories. They started on a losing note in their first bout, but the other five boxers made amends to keep their flag flying winning all their bouts with ease. Sri Lankan boxer M.D.K. Wanniarachchi in particular was severe with his opponent D.L. Kahatapitiya of Kalutara BDA, with the referee stopping fight. K.A.C.N. Alexander of Unichela BC was the most successful boxer as he put up a great fight in the semi finals to overcome Harsha Kumara of Slimline to win by a whisker. For this effort he walked away with prize offered for the Most Scientific Boxer's award for which he received the Sir Henry Manning Trophy.

Slimline apart from clinching the title went on to win four of the five prizes that were on offer, with M.D.K. Wanniarachchi winning the best boxers title, T.B. H. Kumara who incidentally was the best boxer of the meet last year winning the best losers and the Slimline team winning the S.E. Selladorai Cup for being the champions and the Muttiah Xavier Roches Cup for the most successful boxing club for the year 2004.

The nationals conducted by the ABASL spearheaded by its president Dian Gomes was well conducted.The chief guest at the prize giving ceremony was Kishu Gomes, CEO of Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd who gave away the awards.

Light Fly Weight Under 48kgs - K.A.C.N. Alexander (Unichela BC) beat T.M.C. Tennekoon (Army 'A') 29-08. Fly Weight Under 51kgs - R.M.A.B. Ratnayake (Slimline BC) beat H.P. Jayantha Kumara (Army 'A') 37-22. Bantam Weight Under 54kgs - M.D.K. Wanniarachchi (Slimline BC) beat D.L. Kahatapitiya (Kalutara BDA)-Referee stopped fight. Feather Weight Under 57kgs - A.K.G.K. Sameera (Slimline BC) beat M.M.D. Paaris (Air Force) 28-08. Light Weight Under 60kgs - R.M.U. Bandara (Slimline BC) beat K.K. Jayasundara (Navy) 27-04. Light Welter Weight Under 64kgs - W.M.R. Wekadapola (Kingswood BC) beat K.A.P. Kandanaarchchi (Navy 'B').

Welter Weight Under 69kgs - S.I. Kumara (Slimline BC) beat W.M.T. Ratnayake (Police 'B') 22-14. Middle Weight Under 75kgs - P.R.D.A. Fernando (Army 'A') beat R.H. Hettiarachchi (Slimline BC) knockout. Light Heavy Weight Under 81kgs - M.A.J.K. Meewala (Army 'B') beat H.M.S.P. Wanninayake (Army 'A'). Heavy Weight Under 91kgs - E.M. Anurasiri (Army 'A') beat R.M.S.N. Bandara (Air Force) knockout. Super Heavy Weight Over 91kgs - D.P.M.H. Dharmasiri (Navy 'A') beat T.M.G.S. Noor (Kingswood BC) 31-25.

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