- Olympic hopeful Umayanga Mihiran and two other boxers all lose in first round
- Another “joyrider” boxer gifts a walkover after trekking to Kazakhstan – he was reported to have been overweight
The Sri Lanka Boxing Association (BASL) is facing intensified scrutiny after a series of disappointing performances at the ASBC Asian U22 & Youth Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan took place yesterday, echoing the controversy surrounding the decisions made in the selection of its boxers for the upcoming Olympic Selection Trials in Bangkok, Thailand.
The drama unfolded further when one of its Paris 2024 Boxing hopefuls in Umayanga Mihiran lost his bout in the first round, casting doubts over his selection and readiness for the Olympic stage. Mihiran, who along with Rukmal Prasanna and touted by BASL President Dian Gomes as the country’s future talent, was defeated on points (5/0).
Adding to the controversy, Ismath Mohamed Salmaan Faris, another boxer currently on tour, effectively gave up even before his match began by handing a walkover to his opponent. This unusual move, likened to a “joy ride” with the team, has further fueled debates over the criteria and transparency of the BASL’s selection process regarding the fitness of its selected boxers.
Sri Lanka’s challenges in the ring intensified further yesterday, as Yasidu Premaratne, last year’s Thomian boxing captain and 2023 Stubbs Shield Champion, also endured a difficult first round bout, ultimately losing 5/0 on points to Murodzoda Abu Bakr from Tajikistan.
The third Sri Lankan boxer to be defeated in the first round was Vimarshan Heshan Ambarpol Gedara, who also lost on points (5/0) to an Iranian opponent. This concluded a disappointing day in the ring for Sri Lanka, with three losses in the opening round and a fourth boxer handing over a walkover.
President Gomes, who had previously mocked the Ministry of Sports headed by its Minister Harin Fernando for their lack of financial support, pointed out that the team’s participation in Kazakhstan was only made possible due to a donation of €16,000 that he had received from IBA President Umar Kremliv. This revelation came in a Facebook post, where Gomes went on to ridicule the Ministry of Sports, highlighting the financial struggles that the BASL faces.
These series of events have not only cast a shadow over the capabilities of the selected boxers but also raised significant ethical and managerial questions within the BASL’s leadership.
With the Olympic trials approaching, the National Sports Selection Committee headed by Gen. Shavendra Silva faces a critical juncture to reassess its selection policies and commitment to fair play and equality. The boxing community and sports enthusiasts across Sri Lanka await the NSSC’s decisive action to address these ongoing issues, hoping for a resolution that restores confidence in the nation’s boxing governance.
Earlier, the BASL faced severe criticism for the controversies surrounding its selection process for the Paris 2024 Boxing Selection Trials. This took place after the BASL decided to field just two male boxers for the final Olympic trials in Bangkok, Thailand, whilst excluding all its female contenders. Additionally, the BASL neglected to respond to an invitation from the Paris Boxing Unit (PBU) to send a team of 13 boxers and disregarded the PBU’s and IOC’s efforts to promote gender equality at this year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games. No female boxers were included in the two previous trials, nor were any named for the upcoming trials in Bangkok. The situation is made more contentious by the BASL’s decision-making in gender representation.
Meanwhile, two boxers, Nadeeka Ranasinghe (50kg) and Niraj Wijewardena (71kg), who were not selected for the Bangkok Trials, have formally appealed to the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In their letters, they state their cases as being victims of unfairness and manipulation by the BASL, which they claim led to their exclusion from the trials in Bangkok. A decision on their appeals is anticipated in due course.
