The Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has formed a national pool for the first time in eight years based on the performances of boxers at the 82nd Layton Cup Boxing Championship.
Satisfying one of the election pledges of BASL President Dr. Anuruddha Bandara who took office in May, the national selection committee controlled by Abdulla Ibunu have selected a 43-member national pool, comprising 30 men and 13 women pugilists.
The oldest member of the national boxing pool is 37-year-old Gayan Indika Bandara of Navy, an international medallist, who was runner up in the Light Fly weight (51kg) to Sri Lanka’s leading pugilist Police’s Umayanga Mihiran.
The youngest member of the national boxing pool is former Sri Sumangala College, Kandy and St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy boxer 19-year-old Yazmin Usaith, who won the Middleweight (75kg) title at the Layton Cup finals, held in Negombo beach. The majority of the 43-member pool comprises Army pugilists.
Between the women pool lists, there is no place for veteran Air Force and Sri Lanka pugilist Sajeewani Coorey, 33, unbeaten multiple national champion and a quarter-finalist at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Also missing out were two other Air Force boxers W.W.A.K. Thiwanka (66kg) and K.A.G.N. Kaluarachchi (75kg), an international medallist, who received walkovers and hence unable to impress the national selectors.
The national selection committee comprising Susantha Weerasena, Khan Weerasinghe, Nuwan Sumeda and W.S.P. Fernando as members, have given importance in selection for technical ability, experience to fight internationally, age, style and ranking for further development.
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