Boxers primed to come out fighting for glory

Boxing has received step motherly treatment by those in authority sometimes because of petty personal vendettas but it is perhaps the only sport that has continued the legacy of Barney Henricus who became the first Sri Lankan to win a gold medal at the 1938 British Empires Games in Sydney.

Although Duncan White, the first Sri Lankan to win an Olympic medal in 1948 London, emulated his feat at Auckland 1950 it was Henricus who set the golden standard for others to follow in the Commonwealth Games. Shooting pair Pushpamali Ramanayake and Malini Wickremasinghe fired to glory in 1994 Victoria while Chinthana Vidanage was the fourth gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 Melbourne. In all Sri Lanka has won a total of 20 medals (8 silver and 8 bronze) at the Commonwealth Games in four different sports – boxing, weightlifting, shooting, and athletics.

Boxers defied all odds to clinch three bronze medals at the 2018 Gold Coast including a first by a female pugilist Anusha Kodituwakku ending a 68-year drought since boxers won three medals in 1950 Auckland – K Edwin and Albert Perera (silver) and Alex Obeyesekere (bronze). It was the realization of a dream for the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka president Dian Gomes who has been unflinching in his resolve to produce an Olympic medallist, coming close when Anuruddha Ratnayake qualified to compete in 2008 Beijing after a lapse of 40 years.

Those who have a passion for the sport understand the determination to achieve the mission impossible by Sri Lanka’s boxing, a respected international figure in the sport having been elected as a Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA).

Alas like in the biblical tale prophets are not recognized in their home country. Gomes marches on regardless like a juggernaut fiercely fighting like a cornered tiger in his relentless pursuit to bring glory to Sri Lanka.

Even the boxers are aware of this and want to prove their detractors wrong despite being treated favourably by the powers that be.

Gomes claims there has been no funding for boxing from both the NOC (National Olympic Committee) and the Sports Ministry despite having medal-winning potential.

Against all odds “we are trying to win medals again without much international exposure for the last three years through funding by private sponsorship for boxing with great difficulty.” Indeed boxing and weightlifting are the two main sports to win any medals (seven each) in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Not only Sri Lanka’s two most experienced campaigners, Ishan Bandara and Keshani Hansika, but the eight-member team including international debutant Niklas Vittalis will have a fire burning in their bellies and eyes when they enter into the roped square during the XXII Commonwealth Games boxing competition. These are not loud and empty boasts but a pledge to fight for the honour of the nation from battle-seasoned professionals who are willing to even lay down their lives in the line of duty.

In a strange coincidence, all five men pugilists are from the Army, which made it easier for head boxing coach Sampath Jayatilleke to carry out his training schedules because facilities such as a swimming pool, gym, and even food were available. A South Asian Games (SAG) bronze medallist and Army’s most successful coach since 2013, the 48-year-old Warrant Officer Class I has drilled the boxers into a fighting unit. Despite some distractions over selection controversies which were blown away as sanity prevailed, Jayatilleke wants to defy the myth that heavyweights won’t stand a chance at the Games like the 81kg gold medal produced at the 2019 SAG. A classic example is the mentality of debutant Niklas, a native of Killinochchi who is tough as nails and unorthodox in his fighting technique.

The lanky 28-year-old fighting in the 71kg knows no fear, has always displayed amazing potential and is like an uncut diamond waiting to sparkle in the ring. Layton Cup Best Boxer Sanjeewa Bandara is in the prime of his career since ending the unbeaten run of accomplished Sri Lanka boxer Dinidu Saparamadu in 2019.

A product of Peradeniya Central College, the 31-year-old has held sway in the light welter (63.5kg) weight.

Four-time national featherweight (57kg) champion Vimukthi Kumara is also bursting with confidence having won a bronze medal at 2019 SAG four years after winning a silver at the Mauritius President’s Cup. A product of Mahanama College, Kandy, Cpl Kumara has represented himself well at the World Military Games. Rukmal Prasanna, one of the top schoolboy pugilists to come out of Gamini Central, Ingiriya, was adjudged the Best Boxer at the Nationals in 2020.

A former Sri Lanka junior international, 22-year-old Prasanna is a technically correct southpaw who won a gold medal at the Les Ceintures International Boxing meet in France in the bantamweight (54kg) class.

Reigning national flyweight champion, Ishan Bandara is at the peak of his form dominating his rivals in all three selection meetings to be Sri Lanka’s number one choice for a boxing medal in Birmingham.

Sportsman of the Year in 2018 following his bronze medal-winning feat at the 2018 Gold Coast, the 31-year-old Staff Sergeant at 16 ESR (Engineering Services Regiment) has made the 52kg weight his own since making his boxing debut in 2011.

He first represented Sri Lanka at the Benazir Bhutto Boxing Cup, took part in three Asian Boxing Championships, two World Military Games, and won a bronze medal at the 2016 SAG.

His crowning moment of glory came at the 2018 Gold Coast and took part in the Asian Games as well before suffering a dip in form after suffering a right elbow injury. But he has bounced back with spectacular performances at home and lived up to his billing internationally winning a silver medal at the Eindhoven Cup, his second silver at the Netherlands meet.

“I am going for a gold medal,” said the native of Minneriya who took up boxing following in the footsteps of brother Gayan Chandima in the Army.

The three women pugilists have suffered from a dearth of international competition because of funding issues with a planned training stint in Cuba also being scuppered. “Despite our dire economic situation we have not lost focus on training,” said women’s head coach Amila Aravinda Tissera.

Sri Lanka’s most accomplished woman pugilist Keshani Hansika is awaiting her date with destiny having cut down her weight from 57kg to a pencil slim figure of 50kg over the past year.

Looking lean and hungry to win a medal that has eluded her twice before at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 Glasgow and 2018 Gold Coast, 31-year-old Hansika eats, drinks, and sleeps boxing since beginning her career at Ananda Balika MV, Kotte in 2011.

Eight-time national champion and winner of three Best Boxer titles during her career including at the Nationals and Layton Cup, Hansika is unbeaten at home which works to her disadvantage since she has no competition.

“We have been training hard sparring with the boys. So it is not a big setback,” said Hansika who won a silver medal at the 2017 Eindhoven Cup in addition to bronze medals at the 2018 Indonesian President’s Cup and 2019 SAG.

She has vast experience having represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Championships twice and World Championship back in 2014 though missing out on international competitions during the last two years.

Her stablemate at Vidyarathena Sports Club Nadeeka Ranasinghe is also determined to bounce back since her reversal at the Asian Championship in Dubai.

A two-time Best Boxer at the National Championship, 31-year-old has the heart of a fighter and is hungry for glory.

Featherweight (57kg) champion from Air Force Sajeewani Cooray promises to give a performance that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. “I will fight with all my strength to set an example for others,” said the 32-year-old, a SAG bronze medallist who has taken part twice in the World Military Games.