Nilmini bags gold to create history

by Chris DHAMBARAGE

BOXING: Sri Lanka’s Nilmini Jayasinghe created history when she bagged a gold medal at the AIBA International Women’s boxing tournament worked off in Petersburg, Russia yesterday.

The 29-year-old boxer from Slimline BC put up a tremendous performance to beat her more fancied Canadian opponent Dujuwa Mandy on points in the 50 kg fly weight category final bout yesterday.

She of course went into the final assured of securing a silver medal but produced a brave effort to win her first gold medal in a major international tournament. Jayasinghe had earlier clinched a bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Championships in Vietnam and had also participated in two World Cup tournaments in India (2006) and China (2008) respectively.

Jayasinghe showed early promise of making an impact in this event by clearing her semifinal hurdle with a rousing victory on points against another opponent from Russia.

The early success certainly gave her the extra amount of confidence to perform in the all important final despite the heavy odds against her.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s other representative at this meet Anusha Kodituwakku had to be satisfied with a bronze medal after going down to her opponent from Moldova Dimova, in the 48 kg light fly weight category semifinal bout.

Kodituwakku (31) also from Slimline BC who had earlier bagged a gold medal at the Asian championships in Vietnam in 2006 entered the semifinals by overcoming her opponent from Ukraine Shatakun on points. The two women boxers were guided by the Cuban coach Rafael Ramirez who is also in charge of the Sri Lankan national men’s boxing team.

The three member Sri Lankan team will arrive in Colombo on Monday.

A number of top women boxers from Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France India, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey participated in this tournament.