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| Sunday, 7 August 2005 |
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Caltex powers boxing with five lakhs for Asian C'ships by Lal Gunesekera Caltex has now decided to "power" the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) of Sri Lanka after developing a relationship and deciding to sponsor them - to start with Rs. 500,000 to help the ABA send the best pugilists to Hanoi later this month for the Asian Championship, and increase the package next year (2006). Managing Director of Caltex, Kishu Gomes, addressing a media briefing on Friday at Hotel Continental, said that during the last 12 years, Caltex, have revived motor sports (helped them for seven years), propped up rugby football and also indoor cricket. They moved into boxing four years ago when they started sponsoring Seevali MMV from Ratnapura who are now the undisputed champions among the schools. Kishu Gomes further said that they at Caltex felt it was the right time to get involved in big time boxing, as this is a sport where Sri Lanka stands a good chance of winning at international meets. He also said that boxing has spread to the rural areas like Polonnaruwa and even the southern province and that the ABA has done a wonderful job under its President Dian Gomes. President of ABA, Dian Gomes, said that since 1968 (when Sri Lanka were represented by H. K. Karunaratne at the Mexico Olympics) no Sri Lankan has boxed at the Olympics. He said: "There has been a fantastic improvement since 2004 with new technology and a Cuban coach. Wanniaratchi won a silver at the King's Cup meet this year and are now preparing for the Commonwealth Championship and South Asia Games". Dian Gomes further said that some of our boxers are now being trained in Cuba and have been practising with the Brazilian side. Next week they will fight in Scotland at the Commonwealth Championship and hen at Asian Championship in Hanoi. The ABA President thanked Caltex for sponsoring Seevali MMV and said that new champions will come from the rural areas. He thanked Kishu Gomes and his team for their support too. He further said that with the government unable to allocate sufficient funds, international representation has not been up to the required mark to secure a medal at world stage, and that private sector assistance is needed to push boxing ahead in the country. Among the others present were Shibly Latiff (General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Caltex) and Brigadier Jagath Jayasuriya (Secretary of ABA). |
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