Guaranteeing Sri Lanka at least a bronze medal in the flyweight (51kg) category, Umayanga Mihiran secured a spot in the semifinals of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships, which continued in Chiang Mai, Thailand, yesterday.
The 21-year-old boxer delivered a composed and tactical performance, defeating Malaysia’s Muhammad Abdul Qayyum in the quarterfinals. Both fighters entered the ring after byes in the previous round, but Mihiran’s precision punches and superior movement set him apart.
Starting cautiously, Mihiran used sharp left jabs to control the first round. He then shifted gears, unleashing well-timed uppercuts and hooks while evading Qayyum’s attacks with fluid lateral movement. Despite one judge scoring in favour of Qayyum, Mihiran’s dominance and ring control were undeniable.
Mihiran will face a formidable challenge in the semifinals on Sunday, taking on Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov, the reigning Asian U22 champion. Jalilov advanced after defeating Kazakhstan’s 2021 World Champion Saken Bibossynov in a close contest.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s other quarterfinalists, Nuwan Jinadasa (light flyweight, 48kg) and Ravindu Kumara, were eliminated after suffering technical knockouts. Jinadasa’s promising start against Japan’s Kazuma Aratake ended abruptly in the final round when a series of powerful combinations forced the referee to stop the fight. Kumara struggled against Uzbekistan’s hard-hitting opponent, who brought the Sri Lankan to his knees twice in the second round before the referee intervened.
With Jinadasa and Kumara out, Sri Lanka’s hopes now rest solely on Mihiran. His upcoming clash promises to be a true test of his talent against one of Asia’s finest boxers.
The championships, featuring elite athletes from 21 nations, continue to showcase the intensity of Asian boxing, with Mihiran emerging as a symbol of Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit in the international ring.
The 21-year-old boxer delivered a composed and tactical performance, defeating Malaysia’s Muhammad Abdul Qayyum in the quarterfinals. Both fighters entered the ring after byes in the previous round, but Mihiran’s precision punches and superior movement set him apart.
Starting cautiously, Mihiran used sharp left jabs to control the first round. He then shifted gears, unleashing well-timed uppercuts and hooks while evading Qayyum’s attacks with fluid lateral movement. Despite one judge scoring in favour of Qayyum, Mihiran’s dominance and ring control were undeniable.
Mihiran will face a formidable challenge in the semifinals on Sunday, taking on Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov, the reigning Asian U22 champion. Jalilov advanced after defeating Kazakhstan’s 2021 World Champion Saken Bibossynov in a close contest.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s other quarterfinalists, Nuwan Jinadasa (light flyweight, 48kg) and Ravindu Kumara, were eliminated after suffering technical knockouts. Jinadasa’s promising start against Japan’s Kazuma Aratake ended abruptly in the final round when a series of powerful combinations forced the referee to stop the fight. Kumara struggled against Uzbekistan’s hard-hitting opponent, who brought the Sri Lankan to his knees twice in the second round before the referee intervened.
With Jinadasa and Kumara out, Sri Lanka’s hopes now rest solely on Mihiran. His upcoming clash promises to be a true test of his talent against one of Asia’s finest boxers.
The championships, featuring elite athletes from 21 nations, continue to showcase the intensity of Asian boxing, with Mihiran emerging as a symbol of Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit in the international ring.