Aspiring pugilist Nimesha realises KFL dream
Nimesha Kumari
Undefeated female martial artist Nimesha Kumari, a rising star in kickboxing, will be bolstered by the generous sponsorship of Asian Security Group, who has stepped up to enhance Sri Lanka’s future potentials in the field of sports.
Nimesha, (22), a young pugilist who elevated her status to Karma Fight League (KFL), the Sri Lankan edition of combat sports, such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Kickboxing, will be backed by the Asian Security Group for a period of two years, covering almost every important aspect of her requirements to the sport.
This was revealed officially by the KFL management on Friday in Colombo, where the athlete and the sponsor jointly met the local press to disclose facts of the development.
“KFL is a platform dedicated to bringing out young talent to the world,” said KFL’s Co-founder and Creative Producer Ilham Hossen.
Nimesha’s package would consist of a professional stipend, along with stipends for nutrition, training, trainer’s fee, and medical coverage. When KFL reached out to the Asian Security Group, they had witnessed Nimesha’ talent first-hand at her previous KFL fight. Her talent, which outshone her opponent, attracted the attention of the group to invest in her, said its Chairman Dimantha Jayawardena.
“We won’t stop with her” he said, expressing the group’s willingness to continue to financially back KFL.
Director of Combat Sports Dayan Samarasekara highlighted that the sport is not for those who engage in it part-time, due to a hectic schedule of training day and night, medical checkups, and so on, requiring a substantial amount of finances.
“This is where KFL steps in,”, he said. Director of PR and Communication, Shyam Impett, acknowledged Asian Security Group for their support, emphasising KFL’s mission to groom talented fighters and propel them for international recognition.
“We have two to three players who currently engage in part-time jobs such as masons, just to make ends meet, and these are our best athletes.” he said.
“If you’re a good fighter, we will take you, groom you, and also back you. And we will make sure that you go forward with the right package, make you a professional fighter, and represent Sri Lanka at the highest level and bring glory to the nation. That’s a catered promise,” he added.
Nimesha’s coach Jamitha Gayan who has trained her since she was 12 years old, expressed pride in her journey and emphasised that this sponsorship marks a new chapter in her career. “This is where Nimesha’s journey begins. We fought hard, and came a long way,” he noted.
Nimesha, who shared a gist of the story of her journey, expressed her determination to represent Sri Lanka on the global stage, highlighting her passion for the sport and her aspirations for future success.
The third KFL fight will be held on July 27, where Nimesha will take on Nafisa Naim from Team India as she continues her quest for glory in the world of combat sports. The fight beginning at 7:00pm, will take place at the Taprobane in Colombo.