CHIANG MAI, Thailand: (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s hopes of securing a medal at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships remain alive after 21-year-old Umayanga Mihiran advanced to the semifinals in the flyweight (51kg) category which continues in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
With this victory, Sri Lanka is guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the competition. Mihiran faced Malaysia’s Muhammad Abdul Qayyum in the quarterfinals, and delivered a composed and strategic performance to outpoint his opponent. Both fighters entered the match fresh after receiving byes in the previous round, but it was Mihiran’s technical skill, precision, and tactical planning that stood out in the ring. The Sri Lankan fighter dominated the bout, earning the nod from the judges.
Mihiran started the fight cautiously, using his precise left jabs to control the distance and pace of the first round. As the fight unfolded, Mihiran raised the tempo, using a variety of punches including sharp uppercuts, hooks, and straight jabs. His lateral movement allowed him to avoid Qayyum’s attacks, keeping the Malaysian at bay.
Qayyum tried to disrupt Mihiran’s rhythm with aggressive exchanges, but Mihiran’s resilience was evident. He effortlessly switched between leading the exchanges and counter-punching. Despite one judge scoring all three rounds in favor of Qayyum, Mihiran’s dominance in ring control and discipline was clear, with the Sri Lankan outclassing his opponent.
Mihiran will now face Asilbek Jalilov of Uzbekistan in the semifinals, a fighter with impressive credentials, including a win over 2021 World Champion Saken Bibossynov of Kazakhstan. Jalilov, the reigning ASBC Asian U22 champion, is a skilled and experienced boxer who will be a formidable challenge for Mihiran in the semifinal clash on Sunday, December 8.
Sri Lanka’s other quarterfinalists, Nuwan Jinadasa and Ravindu Kumara, were both eliminated from the tournament after suffering technical knockouts. Jinadasa, a standout in the Layton Cup, faced Japan’s Kazuma Aratake, a 2022 silver medalist. The fight was evenly matched until Jinadasa was rocked by a powerful left cross, followed by a barrage of punches from Aratake. The referee stopped the contest in the final round after a standing ‘eight’ count.
Meanwhile, Kumara, a former youth international and Intermediates Best Boxer, struggled against Uzbekistan’s powerhouse fighter. Despite his reach advantage, Kumara was overwhelmed by a series of strikes and was knocked to the ground twice in quick succession, prompting the referee to halt the fight in the second round.
With Jinadasa and Kumara eliminated, all hopes for Sri Lanka now rest on Mihiran. His upcoming semifinal match will be a critical moment in the competition, as he faces one of Asia’s top boxers.
The championships, featuring 21 countries, including boxing powerhouses like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Thailand, continue to highlight the competitive nature of Asian boxing.
