Header

Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

28th September 2021 11:25:04 Hours

Army Boxer & Air Force Woman Pugilist Win Bronze Medals in Moscow

The 58th World Military Boxing Championship, held at the Patriot Exhibition and Convention Center in Moscow during 19-26 September 2021, attracting 231 boxers in total from 36 countries in ten weight categories for men and five for women, awarded a Bronze medal to Sri Lanka's leading light fly weight pugilist, Lance Corporal Sajeewa Nuwan of Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) of the Sri Lanka Army for his performance under 49 kg weight category.

A 23-member delegation, composed of tri service and civil sector boxers, coaches, Officers and officials attended the event. The Sri Lanka Air Force female Boxer, Gayani Kaluarachchi became the first woman pugilist to bag one more Bronze Medal.

The Bronze medalist, Lance Corporal Sajeewa Nuwan also competed and won medals in several previous national championships, inclusive of Laton Cup 2019-(Gold), Clifford Cup 2019- (Gold), National Championship-2019- (Gold) in addition to his gains in few other international championships.

In view of his unbeatable skills, the Sri Lanka Boxing Association selected him earlier for the World Boxing Championship in Siberia as the one and only boxer from Sri Lanka. The delegation to Russia was headed by Major General Prasanna Ranawaka, Chief of Mission, Brigadier W.S.K Liyanawadu, International Referee (AIBA), coaches and players.

The event was also attended by the President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) Colonel Hervé Piccirillo, President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Umar Kremlev, Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation Kirill Shchekutyev, official ambassador of the Championship - Olympic champion, world and European champion, winner of the first and second World War Games, world military champion Colonel Alexander Lebzyak, as well as athletes, coaches, veterans and employees of the army club and the Russian Boxing Federation.

The 58th World Boxing Championship was inaugurated by a speech of Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Nikolai Pankov, who read out the welcoming address of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu.