Royal College, Colombo (RCC) demonstrated remarkable determination and skill at the 105th Stubbs Shield Boxing Championship, finishing as runners-up to St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy (SSCK).
The tournament held as part of the All Island National School Games was held from October 31 to November 5 at Royal MAS Arena.
Royal’s near-victory was marred by a controversial loss and illness among key fighters, factors which potentially shifted the balance in favour of SSCK who won the championship winning four gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
Royal emerged runners-up with three gold medals, silver and bronze edging out Vidyarathana University College, Horana who also had three winners.
Royal’s journey was anchored by strong performances from its senior boxers. Captain Thenuwan Bandara Meegalla displayed exceptional skill and was awarded the Col. T.Y. Wright Cup for the Most Scientific Senior Boxer after outpointing opponents in the semi-finals and finals. Harish Bandara was the last Royalist to win this coveted trophy in 1986. Meegalla’s contributions were pivotal, highlighted by a Royal-Thomian clash victory over W.S. Ranasinghe, which he won in the second round.
However, RCC’s campaign faced an early setback in the Junior Boy 48kg category, where Asadullah suffered a highly debated split-points decision (3:2) loss to L.Y.B.R.M. Karunarathna of Peradeniya Central College. Asadullah’s skillful footwork and defensive prowess had the crowd in awe, but the surprising decision likely cost Royal a crucial position in the finals and perhaps the championship itself. This loss remains a talking point, as Asadullah’s victory could have significantly altered Royal’s prospects.
Vice-captain Ahsan Ahmedh put up a resilient fight, advancing to the finals in the Youth Boy 52kg category, winning a tense split-decision semifinal against TB Jayah meet Best Boxer Vidusha Hettiarachchi of DS Senanayake. Despite his efforts, he narrowly lost in the finals to I.N.D. Thathsara of Nalanda College. Ahmedh’s semifinal victory showcased his ability to perform under pressure, although Royal reported that his performance dipped in the final due to illness.
The heavyweight segment was equally strong for Royal. Malith Bandara (75kg) and Sahan Perera (81kg) clinched victories with strategic bouts, dominating their opponents with calculated footwork and technical control. Bandara’s semifinal win against Sylvestrian T.M.C.L. Thennakoon was a masterclass in ringcraft, utilising lateral movement to counter his opponent’s attacks.
Perera, a fresher, was also impressive, capitalising on his reach and agility to outmanoeuvre rivals in every round.
The commitment of Royal’s coaching team, led by Ravi Kumarapperuma, with assistants M. Nisthar and Rizwan Jamaldeen, was instrumental. Their efforts, alongside General Jagath Jayasuriya and the Royal College Union (RCU) Boxing Advisory and Management Committee, provided the squad with a rigorous two-week residential training program extended to match the tournament’s postponed schedule. The dedicated preparation set a strong foundation for Royal’s commendable performance.
While Royal performed admirably, the Sylvestrians edged ahead by having more finalists, showcasing the depth of their talent pool. St. Sylvester’s secured six finalists compared to Royal’s four, which, combined with Asadullah’s contentious early loss, tipped the scales. SSCK’s back-to-back championships bring them closer to Royal’s record of 19 Stubbs Shield titles, underlining the need for RCC to continue fostering talent, particularly in junior and youth weight classes, to maintain competitive depth.
With General Jayasuriya’s vision for reclaiming the Stubbs Shield by 2025, RCC is on a promising track. Encouragingly, a proposed triangular competition between Royal, S.Thomas’, and Trinity College could provide additional competitive exposure for RCC’s boxers, better preparing them for future championships.
Royal College, Colombo demonstrated true sportsmanship and skill at the Stubbs Shield Championship, pushing defending champions St. Sylvester’s College to the edge. With strategic planning, strengthened junior talent, and continuous training, RCC is well-positioned to reclaim the prestigious title, honouring its legacy as a powerhouse in school boxing.
Results
Day 2 – Preliminaries
Junior Boy 48kg: M.I.S.M. Asadullah lost to L.Y.B.R.M. Karunarathna (Peradeniya CC) 3:2 points decision
Junior Boy 50kg: B. Mewan lost to M.B.P. Thilakarathna (Sivali CC, Rathnapura) 4:0 points decision
Senior Boy 52kg: T.M. Dissanayaka lost to P.N. Samadanam (Ananda College, Colombo) 4:1 points decision
Senior Boy 56kg: T.B. Meegalla beat K.D.B.V. Perera (Mahanama College, Colombo) Referee Stopped Contest R2
Senior Boy 75kg: K.M.M. Bandara beat O. Silva Referee Stopped Contest R1
Senior Boy 81kg: K.S.M. Perera beat S. Rifas (Trinity College, Kandy) 5:0 points decision
Day 3 – Preliminaries
Youth Boy 52kg: N.A. Ahmedh beat M.Y. Thahir (Wesley College, Colombo) Referee Stopped Contest R1
Day 4 – Quarter Finals
Youth Boy 52kg: N.A. Ahmedh beat V.G.M.B. Pasanthilaka (Dharmaloka College, Pelmadulla) Referee Stopped Contest R2
Senior Boy 56kg: T.B. Meegalla beat W.S. Ranasinghe (S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia) Referee Stopped Contest R2
Senior Boy 81kg: K.S.M. Perera beat A. Aleemdeen (Zahira College, Colombo) 5:0 points decision
Day 5 – Semi-Finals
Youth Boy 52kg: N.A. Ahmedh beat V.S. Hettiarachchi (DS Senanayake College, Colombo) 3:2 points decision
Senior Boy 56kg: T.B. Meegalla beat E.G.P.S. Ranasinghe (Peradeniya CC) 5:0 points decision
Senior Boy 60kg: S.D. Jayasooriya lost to K.G.S.K. Heshan (St Sylvester’s College, Kandy) Knock Out R1
Senior Boy 75kg: K.M.M. Bandara beat T.M.C.L. Thennakoon (St Sylvester’s College, Kandy) 5:0 points decision
Senior Boy 81kg: K.S.M. Perera beat Y.N. Bulathgama (Ananda College, Colombo) 5:0 points decision
Day 6 – FINALS
Youth Boy 52kg: N.A. Ahmedh lost to I.N.D. Thathsara (Nalanda College, Colombo) 5:0 points decision
Senior Boy 56kg: T.B. Meegalla beat G.G.S.N. Dissanayaka (St Aloysius College, Rathnapura) 5:0 points decision
Senior Boy 75kg: K.M.M. Bandara beat U.G.M.R. Keerthisinghe (Wattegama Central) Referee Stopped Contest R2
Senior Boy 81kg: K.S.M. Perera beat A.M.A.A.S. Mallawarachchi (Wattegama Central) 5:0 points decision