During Day 5 of the ASBC Asian Under 22 and Youth Boxing Championships 2025, another five Sri Lankans featured in the Under 22 Quarter Finals. Among them, Umayanga Mihiran, Asehan Karunanayaka, and Deshan Jayasundara produced splendid performances and stormed into the Semi Finals by securing medals in their respective categories.
Hero for the day for the hosts was Sri Lanka’s leading pugilist, Asian Elite Championship bronze medalist and two-time national champion, Umayanga Mihiran, who battled against another promising talent, Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Ergeshov, in the 48kg weight category. Mihiran was clever in both the attack and defence and managed to control the game against the formidable opponent. Mihiran launched a fierce attack with straight and cross punches, which were combined with uppercuts. His game awareness and nippy footwork secured his place in the Semi Finals.
>>Sri Lankan boxers shine on Day 2, at the ASBC Boxing Championship<<
Then Herath Mudiyanselage Ashen Karunanayaka met against Malaysia’s Mohamed Rizal Wahidi in the Bantam (54kg) weight division. It was a toe-to-toe battle as both boxers gave their everything to post a win. Though the Sri Lankan boxer took the clear advantage in the first and second rounds, the Malaysian entered into a fierce battle in the final round, which was a do-or-die situation. The referee counted both boxers in the last round, but Karunanayake managed to secure his place in the Semi Final in front of the jubilant home crowd.
>>ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships launched in grand style<<
The promising talent from St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, and the silver medalist at the Seychelles Constitution Day tournament, Deshan Jayasundara, came to the ring against Philippines boxer Mateo Poullet-Osier in the Lightweight (60kg) category. Deshan dominated the fight from the start, and he never allowed his opponent to make a return. Powerful jabs of Deshan made his way through to the Semi Finals by increasing Sri Lanka’s medal tally.
>>A tough day for Sri Lankan youth boxers<<
Thereafter, Sri Lankan rising boxer Thenuwan Bandara Meegalla, who is the Taipei City Cup gold medalist, battled against Kazakhstan’s Zhasurbek Anorbayev in the Featherweight (57kg) category. However in this instance, the Kazakh was too strong for the Sri Lankan boxer, as the referee counted all together three times and confirmed the loss of the local boy.
>>Usaith was victorious and secured a medal for Sri Lanka<<
Another fine talent from St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, Mahipala Mudalige Muditha Paris, met with Saudi Arabia’s Mousa Al Hawsaw in the Light Welterweight (63.5kg) category. During the fight, the local boy failed to impress the home crowd as his opponent was too strong for him, and the referee went for an early stoppage to the game.
In the opening battle, Tajikistan’s Muinkhodzha Muminov resisted and advanced against Nepal’s elite national team member Lal Prasad Upreti in the preliminary round fight.
Kazakhstan’s Dias Berikbay competed against Cambodia’s Novell Long in the Quarter Finals of the Men’s Flyweight category (51kg), and the referee concluded the game in the very first minute as the Kazakh outclassed the opponent with heavy blows.
Then Saudi Arabia’s boxer Mohammed Almuwalladhe fought against Pakistan’s southpaw, Umar Raza Khan, in the Bantamweight category (54kg) and the vibrant Pakistani pugilist secured Pakistan’s first medal in the competition.
In the next match, Bangladesh’s Mohamed Utsob Ahmed fought against Tajikistan’s Anushervon Fazylov and the 19-year-old Tajik displayed a technically correct playing style, getting the better of Bangladesh.
Thereafter, Kyrgyzstan’s Zafarbek Kamilov defeated Vietnam’s Tran Quang Locin in the Bantamweight category (54kg) encounter. The Kyrgyz put up a strong fight in the final round to claim the victory, as his opponent was the favorite to win after the initial rounds.
In the lightweight category (60kg) battle, Tajikistan’s Damir Muybalikhonov outclassed Cambodia’s Vireak Ron by building on his height advantage coupled with strong and accurate punches.
Uzbekistan’s southpaw Shokhrukh Abdumalikov battled against Vietnam’s top talent, Vu Huynh Tan, in the Lightweight (60kg) category. Against all odds, the Uzbek was victorious against his strong opponent, who gave a gritty challenge.
Kyrgyzstan’s ASBC Asian Youth silver medalist Omar Livaza was too strong for his Indian opponent and secured victory in the final battle of the day.
