Army Boxers Emerge National Champions & Baseball Players Trounce Civil Sports Clubs

Sri Lanka Army boxers showed their colours in the just-concluded National Boxing Championship - 2016 and carried away the Championship trophy after a stiff encounter in the final round, held at Royal College MAS Arena in Reid Avenue, Colombo 7.

Lance Corporal M.V.I.R.S Bandara of Corps of Engineer Services in the final third round in the fight under Fly Weight (52 kgs) category against the rival, M.M Prabhashwara of Slimline, MAS Holdings, staged a knockout and claimed the victory to receive the trophy.

The shocking defeat of Bandara’s rival, Prabhashwara within the stipulated time factor was a moment of joy for all boxers, representing 16 boxing clubs across the country.

The National Tournament, competed by 186 boxers from island-wide clubs had been organized by the Sri Lanka Association of Amateur Boxers. Male boxers of the Army during the tournament won the Championship in five weight categories out of ten categories and secured seven Bronze medals in runners-up slots.

The Army winner, despite many hurdles, challenges and a number of unfavourable circumstances, had to go for a knockout as the final decisive saviour of the day since the fight had to be concluded before the time deadline.

Sri Lanka Army boxers since the inception of the National Boxing Championship Tournament in 1920s have been actively contributing by way of participation, ever since the then Ceylon Army was raised in 1949. The tournament was held this year for the 91st time and the Army Boxing Team has secured the Championship more than 33 times during the years between 1949 - 2016.

Bandara’s knockout against his opponent at the final minute signals that the Army boxers would be able to do very much better under the guidance and support of Major General G.R.H Dias, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Boxing Committee.

Hon Dayasiri Jayasekara, Minister for Sports graced the finals as the Chief Guest and awarded the Championship trophy to Army winners.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Army Baseball Team won the Championship trophy in ‘Malinda Arumadura’ Memorial Baseball Championship - 2016, beating the Old Anandians’ Baseball Team during the finals at Diyagama Stadium, Homagama.

This was the first time in the Sri Lanka Army history, the Army Baseball Team clinched the Championship in ‘Malinda Arumadura’ Memorial trophy with a score of 11 - 03.