Manju Wanniarachchi guaranteed Sri Lanka their first Commonwealth Games boxing medal in 60 years, while England’s Callum Smith made sure of a third medal in the fighting family on Sunday.
Smith outpointed Scotland’s Aston Brown 4-0 to storm into the welterweight semi-finals and ensure a medal, emulating brothers Paul (boxing silver in 2002) and Stephen (gold in 2006) in the process.
“That’s three medals in the family now and there’s not many families that can say they’ve done that. That’s the pressure off a bit, but I didn’t come for bronze,” said Smith.
Olympic bronze-medallist Vijender Singh of India won the day’s shortest bout, knocking out Namibia’s Elias Nashivela in the opening round to move into the middleweight semi-finals.
“I wanted to fight, but a knockout just happens,” said Singh.
“I’ve crossed only one level. There are more to come. When I come into the ring, I get positive vibes from the crowd, which helps me a lot during my bout. But at the same time, it puts pressure on me.”
Sri Lankan Wanniarachchi, 30, made sure of the medal when he defeated Kenya’s Nicholas Okoth to move into the bantamweight semifinals.
“This is Sri Lanka’s first boxing medal since 1950, so this is great for us. It is historic,” said manager Dian Gomes.
“He (Wanniarachchi) has come a long way. In the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he lost in the quarter-finals. So finally he is among medals for his country.”
Wanniarachchi, who lost in the final of the Commonwealth Championships to England’s Iain Weaver earlier this year, was virtually speechless.
“I am so happy that I am not able to explain anything. I will give my best in the next bout.”
He takes on Botswana’s Tirafalo Seoko, who beat Namibia’s Sakaria Lukas.
“I picked up the pace (scoring eight points in the third and final round), but my opponent didn’t have many weak points,” said Lukas.
The other bantamweight semi-final will be contested between Sean McGoldrick of Wales and Louis Julie of Mauritius.
“I am really chuffed. I can’t believe it and I’m still smiling,” McGoldrick said after getting the better of Northern Ireland’s Tyrone McCullagh 4-3 on points.
McCullagh conceded he did not box well.
“Maybe I didn’t deserve to go through, but neither did he. I don’t know where he scored four points.”
Julie beat India’s Akhil Kumar 7-5 to move into the last-four.
“He (Julie) was good, but I have beaten him before at the 2006 Commonwealth Games,” said the Indian. “A defeat is a defeat. Losing is part of the game.”
Scotland’s Josh Taylor and England’s Thomas Stalker both advanced to the lightweight semi-finals.
Taylor, who beat Kiribati’s Kautoa Roddy 10-0 on points, said: “I didn’t think I’d win 10-0, but I did think I’d win.”
Stalker defeated Australian Luke Jackson 7-2 on points to set up a clash with Indian Jai Bhagwan.
“It’s a dream come true. I have been working on a tight guard and I don’t get hit often because I am tall,” said Stalker.
“I want to beat the Indian boxer. I want to be a winner and be the best. To beat an Indian in his backyard you have to do a lot more. One point is not enough. I will need to give 120 percent.”
Bhagwan defeated Nigeria’s Waheed Sogbamu 10-0 while Tonga’s Lomalito Moala’s got the better of Canadian Alex Rynn 4-2 in other lightweight quarter-finals.
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