MURAJUDEEN OUT; WARNAKULASOORIYA, JAYATHISSA ADD TO SL'S MEDAL TALLY

Sri Lanka enjoyed mixed fortunes on the second day of the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships, winning two while losing three quarter-final bouts at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

- By ALLAAM OUSMAN

The second day of the competition saw a card of 11 bouts with the host country featuring in five of the contests to open their campaign.

Weliketiye Gedara Warnakulasooriya began with an impressive win against Kyrgyzstan's Anarbekov Anaraly while following a couple of losses Ampa Witana Arachilage Jayathissa lifted the spirits of home fans with an aggressive performance against Saudi Arabia's Al Haidary Mohammed.

However, the biggest disappointment was when one of Sri Lanka's top medal prospects Tuan Aazil Murajudeen crashed out after losing to an Indian pugilist Mohit.

The only consolation for Sri Lanka is that they have increased their medal tally to 18, after being assured of 16 following the draw.

A product of Peradeniya Central College, southpaw, Warnakulasooriya (48kg) displayed superb technique and temperament being in control of the contest from the opening bell. He unsettled his adversary who kept his hands low with three-punch combinations staggering him with left crosses in the first and third rounds to force 'eight' counts.

The Sri Lankan was composed in both attack and defence especially when the tempo of the fight went up in the final round to secure a unanimous points decision.