Boxing, a combat sport and martial art that uses fists is nothing new to the sportsmen and women in the Army. The Inter Regiment Boxing Championship Meet, organized every year on a grand scale testifies to the enormous enthusiasm of officers as well as ordinary soldiers in the organization.
This year’s Inter Regiment Boxing Championship, as scheduled took place at Panagoda Indoor Stadium between 29 - 30 July. The climax of the Championship Meet reached as the finals got underway Friday (30) evening after arrival of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya who himself has been an international referee/judge in Boxing to this date. In the past thirty years the Army boxing meet could not be held due to continuous acts of terrorism by the LTTE. But this year’s Boxing Meet was held with full fledged manner.
Sharp at 5.30 p.m., the latest and final bouts of the Boxers commenced. It was followed by arrival of senior officers and finally, the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Chief Guest on the occasion.
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya on arrival at the venue was received by Brigadier G.R.H. Dias, President Army Boxing Association (ABA) and he was later on introduced to referees and judges in the finals. The day’s sensational final fighters began their fist fighting as hundreds of onlookers burst into applause and cheering, bringing new lease of life to the occasion.
In the final bouts, Sri Lanka Army Service Corps boxers emerged the overall Champions while boxers of the Sinha Regiment ended up as the Runners-up. The 3rd place went to the boxers of the Gajaba Regiment.
During the competition, conducted in ten different weight categories, the Best Technical Boxer award went to Lance Corporal Diwarathna MA of the Sri Lanka Army Service Corps and the Best Loser was Lance Corporal Jeewantha KG of the Gajaba Regiment and the Best Woman Boxer was Sergeant Chandrika LG of the 3 (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Woman Corps and Best Woman Loser was Lance Corporal Sumudu PK of the 2 (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Woman Corps.
Chief Guest on the occasion Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya gave away Championship awards to the winners as the curtains fell on the year’s Boxing Meet as dusk fell on Friday (30). He also distributed awards to the winners of all the categories those who have participated in the Boxing meet.
Brigadier G.R.H Dias, President Army Boxing Association (ABA), Major J.I.B.W Pallekumbura, Secretary to ABA, a large number of officers and other ranks attended the occasion.
During the break, the Commander spoke to Army Boxers and shared views with them. Lieutenant General Jayasuriya, an ardent supporter of Boxing captained the team in his alma mater. He was awarded boxing colours in 1974, 1976 and 1977 respectively and became one of the best athletes in his college.
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