A Sri Lanka Schools Junior Boxing pool will be formed by the Sri Lanka Schools Boxing Association (SLSBA), spearheaded by its Secretary Jamitha Gayan Bandara. This is being done with the aim of winning a medal in boxing for Sri Lanka at the 2036 Olympics. The SLSBA recently took the lead and conducted two boxing meets – the L.V. Jayaweera meet and the T.B. Jayah meet.
Forty-five boxers, all gold medal winners at these two meets, have been invited to the Sri Lanka Schools Junior Boxing pool which is to be formed. The inaugural meeting and the formation of the pool will take place on 29 September at 11 a.m. at the Nation Builders’ Society auditorium.
Apart from the 45 boxers who have been invited for the formation of the pool, their respective trainers have also been invited for this occasion. It is expected that over 100 boxers, trainers, and boxing enthusiasts will attend the inauguration.
The training for this boxing pool will be conducted at four separate locations for the ease of the boxers. The training programme will be conducted by the appointed trainers and is expected to commence from the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Southern Provinces. Depending on the response and outcomes of the initial stage, the SLSBA will then decide on further expansion of the programme in future.
Speaking about this project, SLSBA Secretary Jamitha Gayan Bandara said: “Our aim is to make sure that we provide the maximum opportunity for these young boxers to succeed in future. I am confident that they will bring glory to the country through this programme.”
- Muttiah, father of legendary Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, will be the Chief Guest at the inauguration.