BANGKOK: (ePRESS) – Sri Lankan boxer Umayanga Mihiran secured a dominant win win in his first match at the Boxing Road to Paris event, the Second World Olympic Qualification Tournament continued in the Indoor Stadium Haumark in Bangkok, Thailand.
Competing in the 51kg flyweight division, Mihiran faced Teo Werxuan from Singapore and emerged victorious with a perfect score of 5-0 in a thrilling bout.
Mihiran, a 21-year-old national champion, fought with great grit throughout the nine-minute bout, dominating all five rounds. His confident performance earned praise from his coach, Harsha Kumara, who noted Mihiran’s significant improvement since his last international competition.
Coach Kumara highlighted Mihiran’s adaptability during the brief breaks between rounds, where he implemented the team’s strategies effectively. Mihiran’s next challenge will be against a skilled opponent from Morocco, scheduled for May 30 (Thursday).
Accompanying Mihiran in the tournament are Sri Lanka’s head coach Harsha Kumara and assistant coach Dhanusha Kumara, supporting both Mihiran and fellow boxer Rukmal Prasanna. The tournament, hosting 578 boxers from 132 countries, is crucial as it offers 51 slots for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with 23 for women and 28 for men across 13 weight categories.
Sri Lanka, participating for the first time in this final Olympic qualification event for boxers, aims to secure a spot for the Paris Games. Mihiran and Prasanna represent the best of Sri Lankan boxing talent, competing against top-class opponents from around the world in this highly competitive 10-day tournament.
