The boxing dream continues with Super Fighter Season 1
In what can be termed as a revolution in the sports arena, the collaboration of MAS Holdings and Capital Maharaja will unveil Sri Lanka’s first sports reality programme, the ‘Super Fighter Season 1’. This will be a first-of-its-kind venture in Sri Lanka as the two main stakeholders will get-together with the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to unearth the boxing talents of young Sri Lankans.
The programme, which will feature all the excitement and anticipation of a regular television reality show, set off from the Gampaha district last Monday and will continue to cover the remaining 24 districts, in a 16-episode television series before reaching the pinnacle. The talent show will be open for potential male boxers under the age of 18.
Manju Wanniarachchi appeared in an exhibition bout after making his return to the boxing ring, after two years. - Pic courtesy MTV/MBC
“The programme is conducted district-vise but certain districts have been merged to shorten the process. From those who are picked we will prune them down to 100, 25 each in four weight categories, which are 49kgs, 52kgs, 56kgs and 60ks. We will then further prune down the lot to 16 and eight before picking the ultimate four winners of each weight categories,” explained Ruwan Keragala, the Director of Finance of MAS Intimates .
According to Dian Gomes, the Group Director of MAS Holdings and a former President of BASL, the ulterior motive behind the venture will be to produce an international gold medalist, preferably at the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games. Gomes, the brainchild behind the project spelled out his intentions to see an Olympic gold medal winner during his lifetime.
“Boxing brought in more international medals than any other sport up to 1950, but since then there was a lull period. After a lapse of 40 years we managed to get Anuruddha Ratnayake, then ranked No.5 in the world, to the Olympics in China. The dream still moves to get that gold medal, the first Olympic gold medal in boxing to Sri Lanka, during our lifetime. This is the revolution, to find the new talent, to find our new heroes, to show the world what Sri Lankans are made of, and to convey that we can and to unite the country through sports,” Gomes explained.
The programme which began last Monday at the Bandaranayake Central College in Gampaha has been planned to reach six more districts before the end of January. As in the first of its episodes, the remainders also will be held over two days each. After Gampaha district, the programme reached Pannala National School on January 17 and 18 in a combined episode which covered the Kurunegala
Dian Gomes (L), Chevaan Daniel (C) and pugilist Manju Wanniarachchi (R) at the launch of Super Fighter Season 1
and Puttalam districts.
Next weekend (January 24 and 25), the combined episode for Ratnapura and Kegalle districts will be held at the Seevali Central College in Ratnapura. On January 31 and February 1, the programme will reach D.S. Senanayake College Ampara when it scrapes out the abilities of young potential boxers of the Ampara and Batticaloa districts. The programme will flow until mid 2014 before the winners are determined. Gomes who carried the gospel and blessings of over 60,000 of his colleagues scattered around Sri Lanka, further explained.
“We are keen to see Sri Lankans move forward. Over 60,000 staff members including me, respect this and give the youngsters the confidence to take up a sport like boxing. MAS Holdings has shown the potential by helping total newcomers to get into boxing and some have reached national and international stages. It is certain that the next international medal winner will come from Kilinochchi, Koggala or Hambantota. Youngsters from outstations, if nurtured can be modeled for the next Olympic or Commonwealth medal. There are three weight classes we are focusing at and we are certain that it’s a dream worth holding on to. Boxing has reached the rural areas through various programmes conducted by us earlier. But this is an outreach to go beyond with a broader vision,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of Capital Maharaja, its Group Director Chevan Daniel explained that their channels, MTV, Sirasa and Shakthi have made it habitual to come out with an unusual theme from time to time. “We are a company that has a history of over 70 years. We are better at doing the unusual than others. It’s all about going to the rural areas and helping pick the talented as we have done with our previous attempts in other ventures.”
The organisers will follow standard rules and regulations adopted by the World Boxing Federation during this programme. In addition the number of contestants will be pruned down to 100, continuous training programmes will be held for them until the show reaches the final. Unlike other reality shows the Super Fighter will provide educational and sports scholarships for the winners as well as their schools and selected potential boxing schools among 25 districts. Among those present at the programme launch were Isfer Deen (Sales Manager, Bharati Airtel Lanka), Aubrey Peiris (President of Boxing Association of Sri Lanka), Needra Weerasinghe (Group Director, Capital Maharaja), Chevaan Daniel (Group Director, Capital Maharaja), Dian Gomes (Group Director MAS Holdings and former President Boxing Association of Sri Lanka), Ruwan Keragala (Director Finance MAS Intimates), Shanthi Bagitharan (Director Steins Studio) and Saliya Weerakoon (AGM Market Management, Allianz Insurance).