Anusha from rugby to boxing
by Tyrell Peiris
Anusha Kodithuwakku’s story is
interestingly one from rugby to boxing. The lass, who wore the Sri Lanka
rugby jersey some years ago, left that sport in search of new pastures
in an entirely different field - the iron fisted sport of boxing.
 This woman who made her mark in more or less a man’s domain of two
sports has done her country proud.
The 26-year-old product of Hamangalla MV, Giriulla found her big
moment when she won the bronze medal at the international championship
in Russia.
Ever since winning a gold medal at the Vietnam Open in 2006 in the 48
kg category it has been a road of success all the way for Anusha.
She next won a bronze representing Sri Lanka at the Open Women’s
Boxing Championships in Thaipei, China in 2004.
Then 2006 was another milestone year when she won the gold and was
named the ‘Champion Boxer’ in the Asian Boxing Championships held in
Vietnam.
Anusha has further won in all her weight categories in Sri Lanka.
Some of her other noteworthy achievements were winning bronze at the
Asian Championship in India in 2003 and the Taiwan Open in 2004 and at
the Asian Meet in India in 2008.
Anusha says that her success formula is hard work put into training.
She practises from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. five days in the week.
The second in a family of three sisters, Anusha’s dream is to win
more medals for her motherland.
Anusha came to the limelight in 2002 when she won the Novices Women’s
Championship under the guidance of Harsha Kumara and Lal Amunugama.
She was adjudged the ‘Best boxer’ in the 48 kg. light flyweight
category. She says with gratitude that she owes her success in scaling
the top at international level to Dian Gomes, the Managing Director of
MAS Holding Group Trust.
“Dan’s name is synonymous with boxing in the country and it is he who
personally saw to it that I was fine tuned in the sport”, said Anusha
who called him ‘my mentor’.
Interestingly, she also excelled in the javelin throw at school
winning several medals at the national schools games.
Anusha is attached to the Human Resources Department of Slimline. |
