SCHOOL BOXING REFORMS STIR DEBATE

QUESTIONS RAISED OVER CHANGING FORMAT OF L. V. JAYAWEERA MEET FOR FRESHERS

- By ALLAAM OUSMAN

The recent overhaul in the structure of school boxing tournaments in Sri Lanka has sparked a vigorous debate among coaches, administrators, and former national champions, raising questions about tradition, access, and long-term talent development.

Since the 1970s, the L. V. Jayaweera (LVJ) boxing meet - long regarded as the nursery for Sri Lanka's future champions has served as a pivotal entry point for young pugilists.

The introduction of provincial qualifiers for LVJ last year, replacing the previous open format marks a significant departure from the long-standing system shaped by visionaries like the late Donald Munasinghe.

According to a respected school boxing administrator, this traditional circuit comprising the LVJ, the TB Jayah meet and the Stubbs Shield has produced legends such as Sumith Prasanna, a triple SAF Games gold medallist, Manju Wanniarachchi, Olympian Anuruddha Ratnayake and Kamal Sameera.

Yet, he cautioned that while Sri Lanka's international success has traditionally come from lighter weight categories, dismantling time-honoured meets without improving their execution or offering effective replacements could harm the sport's future.