Sri Lanka were dealt a major blow as their hopes for medals at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships were put in doubt as Yazmin Muhammad Usaith and Nadeeka Ranasinghe were beaten in the Mens and Womens catorgies respectively.
Sri Lanka’s journey at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, concluded on a disappointing note as two medal hopefuls were eliminated in the quarterfinals on Day Five of the competition.
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In the men’s middleweight (75kg) division, 20-year-old Yazmin Muhammad Usaith, the youngest member of the Sri Lankan contingent, fell short against Liu Cheng-En of Chinese Taipei in a tightly contested bout. The judges awarded Liu a 4:1 split decision after a clash of contrasting styles.
Usaith began aggressively, aiming to overpower Liu with powerful punches, but his high-energy approach turned into a slugfest that neutralized his 8 cm reach advantage. Frequent cautions for foul blows disrupted his rhythm, allowing Liu to showcase superior defensive skills and tactical precision.
The fight was evenly matched across the three rounds, with Liu narrowly winning the opener (4:1). Usaith recovered in the second round, earning a 4:1 score, but his inconsistency and lack of clean execution in the final round tipped the scales in Liu’s favor (4:1).
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While one judge scored all three rounds in Usaith’s favor (30:27), another awarded a clean sweep to Liu. The remaining three judges issued narrow verdicts, securing the win for the Chinese Taipei boxer. Despite the loss, Usaith’s performance highlighted his potential but underscored the need for greater tactical discipline at the elite level.
In the women’s minimum weight (48kg) division, Sri Lanka’s seasoned campaigner Nadeeka Ranasinghe was decisively defeated by 19-year-old Vietnamese prodigy Ngo Ngoc Linh Chi.
Linh Chi delivered a masterclass in speed, technique, and strategy, landing precise left jabs and breaking through Ranasinghe’s high guard with ease. Her low-handed style and agile movements left Ranasinghe struggling to keep up.
The judges’ scorecards told the story of Linh Chi’s dominance, with one judge awarding a 10:8 score in the first round and three judges doing the same in the final round. The Vietnamese boxer’s superior skills firmly secured her place in the next round.
While Sri Lanka exits the tournament without medals, the performances reflect both the challenges and opportunities for growth in international boxing.
