Women make sacrifices in battle for ring glory
Krishmi Dharmathilaka raring to go
Women’s boxing in Sri Lanka has been viewed with cynicism not least by some of their male counterparts and even officials although it has been around for nearly two decades. The hours and commitment they put in during training is no less and the personal sacrifices they make is incomparable with some delaying marriage because of their love for boxing. As the women’s sport evolved, it served as a stepping stone to those who embraced it as a career with many going on to excel at international level.
Army’s L.G. Chandrika has the singular honour of winning the first gold medal for Sri Lanka albeit at a dual meet against Philippines in 2005 in Colombo. Amazingly the 38-year-old veteran who first represented Sri Lanka at the inaugural Asian Women’s Boxing Championship in Thailand in 2001, refuses to throw in the towel.
Sri Lanka’s first female boxer to clinch a world title was Nilmini Jayasinghe who won in the under 51kg category at the world invitational women’s boxing championship in St Petersburg in 2009. Dulani Anuradha Jayasinghe competed in the 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju. Erandi de Silva was a quarter-finalist at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and Glasgow Commonwealth Games fighting in the fly weight class. Shiromala Weeraratne was another outstanding pugilist knocking out her opponent from Lesotho in the women’s 69-75kg class first round bout which lasted only 49 seconds at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Keshani Hansika is arguably the best pound-for-pound champion
But the biggest game-changer of them all was undoubtedly Anusha Kodithuwakku who created history at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games becoming the first female boxer to win a medal for Sri Lanka in this event. Her win over a young boxer from Cayman Islands in the quarter-finals also assured Sri Lanka her first medal after 68 years since Albert Perera won silver at the British Empire Games in 1950. She had to be content with a bronze after being outpointed by her nemesis India’s Mary Kom in the Light Fly (under 48kg) weight semi-final. It was the crowning glory for the 39-year-old after having dedicated her life for boxing though her dream of representing Sri Lanka at the Olympics remained unfulfilled. She made an unsuccessful bid when women’s boxing was first introduced at the 2012 London Games while injury put paid her chances in qualifying for Rio 2016. However, she continues to inspire the present generation of stars who strive to carry on her legacy and keep the flame of women’s boxing alive in the country.
“Our senior boxers were good. Anusha has shown us the pathway. We also have that determination and belief that with training we can achieve our dreams. Whatever problems we have, I have not given up on my goals. I continue training and watch my diet so my weight does not shoot up because we have to be ready to fight at any time,” said Krishmi Dharmathilaka who was adjudged the most outstanding woman boxer for 2019 after winning a silver medal at the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) in Kathmandu. She won her fight against Chandra Kala Thapa of Nepal in the semifinals and lost to Sonia Lather of India in the final. In addition, women boxers won four bronze medals contributing greatly to Sri Lanka’s best ever medal haul in boxing at SAG.
At a time when most people have been forced to stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, boxers continue to train indoors keeping their spirits and hopes alive.
“Our hopes have not been shattered. This problem will go on for at least a year. I want to take part and win the next trial meet and go to the Olympics,” said Krishmi who lost to the world number one from Philippines in the Feather (under 57kg) weight after beating an Indonesian rival in the Asian-Oceanian Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event held in Jordan last month where 57 Asians earned their quota places for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Anusha Kodithuwakku won a historic bronze medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
Asked whether she had a realistic chance of qualifying for the Olympics, 28-year-old Krishmi Ayoma Dulanjani Dharmathilaka who was adjudged Best Boxer at all three major meets in 2015 -Layton, Clifford and Nationals – feels she is beginning to reach her peak.
“The talents of boxers come out when they are between 23 and 27. That’s what I have seen. Maybe 26 to 33 is the peak period. We sacrifice everything for the sake of boxing, even marriage,” said Krishmi, the eldest in a family of three from Kegalle who was drawn in to the sport after joining MAS.
“Anusha, Nilmini Jayasinghe and Anuradha Jayasinghe were our role models. They were our inspiration and we are just continuing in their trail,” said Krishmi thanking the management of MAS especially Ruwan Keragala for guiding them in life not just boxing.
She articulated the need to have more international exposure and train with different partners to raise her game to the next level to face the challenge of Asian boxing super powers such as Thailand, Philippines and India.
“We need to train with different partners and also get more international exposure. Women boxers have the motivation to win. We don’t get discouraged fighting against odds. We have that ‘we can win’ attitude always,” said Krishmi, also a fine athlete being zonal champion in discus throw, put shot and javelin throw representing Bandaranayake College, Kegalle before launching her boxing career by winning the gold medal at the Novices meet in 2012.
Another leading pugilist Keshani Hansika widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound champion in the country concurs with Krishmi bemoaning the lack of competition in Sri Lanka.
“The main disadvantage is I don’t have sparring partners. My opponents keep changing their weight classes in competitions to avoid me. I spar with the boys at Slimline during training,” said Hansika who won a silver at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands in 2017 and a bronze medal at the President’s Cup tournament in Indonesia in 2018 after winning two fights. She missed two international tournaments last year being out of action for two months with a tooth infection.
Nadeeka Rupasinghe has iron-willed determination
Like Krishmi, she does her normal routine of training at home with MAS coaches Chamila Abeyratne, Ravindra Wekadapola and Manju Wanniarachchi encouraging them and keeping their spirits high.
“I hope we can go for a training stint abroad like in 2017 when our Ukraine coach took us to Kazakhstan and Ukraine,” said 28-year-old Hansika whose main target is the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
A precociously talented athlete, Kasthuri Arachchige Keshani Hansika played sports such as cricket, elle, netball, volleyball, football and even carrom before displaying her fighting qualities after joining MAS.
“I wanted to join the Air Force but Rohan Dangalle at MAS took me in 2011. I was training alone at first in MAS Intimates, Panadura,” she recalled. Her first major title was the Clifford Cup winning the Under 57kg weight defeating Sithara Sandareka. There was no looking back thereafter, winning her maiden National title in 2013 defeating Niranjala Senanayake who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in 2010. Adjudged Best Boxer at the Intermediates in 2011, more awards followed in 2016 and 2017 for her dominant performances and representation at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships in 2018.
Sajeewani Cooray an experienced campaigner
She feels the postponement of the Olympics has given her a second chance of qualifying for Tokyo.
“I feel I have a good chance of vying for the Olympics,” said Hansika, undoubtedly the best Light weight (60kgs) in the country. She is not short of motivation to succeed after suffering a split decision at the SAG to a rival from host country Nepal in the semifinals.
Reigning Fly weight (51kg) national champion Nadeeka Ranasinghe also feels the Olympics delay has come as a blessing in disguise. The 2020 Games will be held from July 23 until August 8 in 2021.
“For me personally it is an advantage. Since I made a comeback after a layoff last year, I had very little time for training,” said Nadeeka who carried away the Best Boxer award at the Nationals for the second consecutive year and was billed to participate in an Olympic qualifying tournament in France next month.
“I have now more time for training because of this unusual break. I want to develop my strength and punching power. I am working hard to improve these skills,” said pencil-slim Nadeeka who is training strenuously at home diligently following the schedules given by her mentor Amila Aravinda who has made the gym available and also ensured she gets free nutrition supplements.
“I have to just focus on training. The only thing missing now is the punching bag and sparring. I continue with the training schedules. Anyway, I used to be the only girl when I trained at the gym. I am missing partner training. But Amila Sir has created the pathway to progress. I feel I can qualify for the Olympics,” said 29-year-old Nadeeka Pushpakumari Ranasinghe from Warakagoda, Nagoda in Kalutara, the youngest in a family of five girls, who eats, drinks and sleeps boxing.
Six-time National Bantam (under 54kg) weight champion Sajeewani Cooray who played cricket for her hometown club Moratuwa SC has the hunger for success but needs nurturing to fine-tune her skills.
“I feel we are not second to anyone. With high intensity training, we can beat India. We need that little bit extra to step up to next level. We are just slightly lagging behind now,” said Air Force’s Cooray who lost to the world No. 3 from India at the Asian Championship last year.
“We can go far. I have experience. With more training and hard work, I am confident we can achieve our goals in future,” said 30-year-old Muthuthanthri Patabendige Sajeewani Srimalee Cooray who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in 2018.
“I want to bring glory to Sri Lanka,” reiterated Cooray who continues her training at home. “Just because these things happen, we must not stop our personal training. I maintain fitness by doing exercises for abs, skipping and shadow boxing,” said Cooray who is fighting in a non-Olympic weight.
Women will compete across five weight classes: Flyweight (51kg), Featherweight (57kg), Lightweight (60kg), Welterweight (69kg) and Middleweight (75kg) in Tokyo for the first time.
Two years ago, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) made important changes to its policy in favour of gender equality in boxing. In an effort to promote and encourage female participation throughout the sport, AIBA took a big step forward by increasing its quotas for women, both in the ring and in the executive board. Sri Lanka’s boxing chief Dian Gomes also propagated women’s boxing being elected to serve on the women’s commission of the Asian Boxing Confederation.