Sri Lanka’s campaign at the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand ended in disappointment on the fifth day of the competition as two medal contenders were eliminated in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (4), delivering contrasting performances.
In the Men’s middleweight (75 kg) division, Sri Lanka’s youngest participant Yazmin Muhammad Usaith, 20, lost a hard-fought bout to Chinese Taipei’s Liu Cheng-En by a 4:1 split points decision.
Southpaw Usaith came out swinging, looking to dominate his rival with heavy blows.
However, his aggressive approach led to a slugfest that negated his 8 cm-reach advantage.
Repeated cautions for foul blows further hampered the Sri Lankan’s momentum.
Liu, also 20, maintained composure, demonstrating superior defence and tactical ringcraft which were divided throughout the three rounds, reflecting the even nature of the bout.
In round one, Liu edged the opener 4:1, capitalising on his early defensive strategy.
Usaith bounced back, winning a scrappy second round 4:1, but his inability to maintain clean techniques cost him opportunities.
Liu sealed the deal, taking the final round 4:1 as Usaith appeared to run out of steam.
The final decision saw one judge scoring all three rounds in favour of Usaith (30:27), while another gave a clean sweep to Liu.
The remaining three judges delivered narrow verdicts, tipping the balance in favour of the Chinese Taipei boxer.
Though the outcome underscored Usaith’s potential, it also highlighted the need for greater tactical discipline at the elite level.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s minimum weight (48 kg) division, Sri Lanka’s most experienced campaigner, Nadeeka Ranasinghe, was comprehensively beaten by 19-year-old Vietnamese prospect Ngo Ngoc Linh Chi.
Displaying quick footwork, flawless ringcraft, and sharp technique, Linh Chi dominated the bout, stinging Ranasinghe with precise left jabs and breaching her high guard with ease.
The Vietnamese boxer’s low-handed style and quick movements made Ranasinghe look almost pedestrian.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Linh Chi’s dominance, with one judge scoring the first round 10:8 and three judges awarding the final round 10:8, underlining the Vietnamese teenager’s superiority throughout the contest.