Two more Sri Lankans bowed out in the Youth quarter-finals of the ASBC Asian U22 & Youth Boxing Championships but not without fighting tooth and nail at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday.
 Sarmin Gafoor Mohamed Azhar, 17-year-old from St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy fought heroically against a six-footer from Tajikistan Mukhammad Sulton Sultonov in a Welter (60kg) contest. In a battle which resembled a David vs Goliath contest in terms of physicality, Azhar fought bravely in the first two rounds to close in on his taller adversary and landing powerful rights occasionally confusing Sultonov by alternately switching his stance from orthodox to southpaw. Whether it was by intent or accident is a matter for conjecture but it proved to be effective as he succeeded in closing the distance. But Sultonov not only towered above his rival scoring with his left jabs constantly and whipping his right blows with precision to dominate the final round and finish strongly to earn a unanimous points decision.
 Seethadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy schoolgirl Saseka Nanayakkara performed beyond expectations against Kyrgyzstan’s Kyzy Adelia Asylbek in a Light (60kg) weight clash. Nanayakkara fought gamely against a technically superior and stronger rival going toe-to-toe to give as much as she got. However, the brutal power of Asylbek particularly to the body was difficult for the Sri Lankan to stomach with the referee coming to her rescue early in the second round to mercifully prevent Nanayakkara from receiving further punishment.
Five Sri Lankans will feature in today’s Under-22 quarter-finals including Asian Elite Championship bronze medallist Umayanga Mihiran. Sri Lanka’s leading pugilist and two-time National champion will be up against Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Ergeshov in the 48kg weight category.
Herath Mudiyanselage Karunanayaka will meet Malaysia’s Mohamed Rizal Wahidi in the Bantam (54kg) weight division.
Taipei City Cup gold medallist Thenuwan Bandara Meegalla is another medal prospect for Sri Lanka. He will be up against Kazakhstan’s Zhasurbek Anorbayev in the Feather (57kg) weight class.
Silver medallist at the Seychelles Constitution Day tournament Sylvestrian J.M.T. Deshan. He will face Mateo Poullet-Osier in the Light (60kg) weight class.
Another power-punching Sylvestrian Mahipala Mudalige Muditha Paris will meet Saudi Arabia’s Mousa Al Hawsaw in the Light Welter (63.5kg) weight class.