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| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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The Ratnapura gems - Sivali M.V. boxers by Srian Obeyesekere Boxing to stardom from humble beginnings is what success stories are woven around in the ring. Though a rich man's sport globally, the success stories of its heroes have been from 'rags to riches.' From the legendary Joe Louis to Muhammed Ali and contemporary boxers like Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis who made a name from street fighters. And in little Sri Lanka where the sport is in its limited scope, among the schools it is but a few of the glamour ones from the metropolis that can afford the hard cash that thrive in that ambit. Thus, when a dime a dozen of starry eyed kids some 100 kilometres away from far flung Colombo catch the eye in the town of Ratnapura, better known for its glittering gems, it is indeed heart touching. They are the gems from Ratnapura who have glittered their way like the gems from that commercial hub which continues to draw crazy eyed miners and tourists alike for its fascinating appeal. Theirs is indeed a success story that has begun to sell like the city's gems. So much so that for some 27 youngsters from Sivali M.V. Wednesday August 11 held a special significance as they were given a treat of their lives in a plush Colombo hotel - the Grand Oriental in honour of their achievements in the ring. And certainly the lads had earned it when one hears of the hardships they faced. Like for a start having had to train on just bare grass in the college compound, using ropes for punching bags. As their school Vice Principal, Sarath Gunaratne harked, to have been visited by Caltex which saw it fit to throw weight by way of a handsome annual sponsorship package behind these boxers who were hitherto financially handicapped, was indeed a 'dream come true' for Sivali M.V. The luncheon treat, courtesy Caltex, of course, marked a new chapter in the sponsorship of sports where as Caltex Managing Director, Kishu Gomes emphasised Caltex had thought it fit to break from tradition and rally not only with the 'haves', but also the 'have nots.' Caltex was proud that it had come to back a school from the outskirts of Colombo like Sivali M.V. whose boxers had cut a swathe in schools' boxing. Their record - beat the No. 1 school Royal College, Colombo to annex the T. B. Jayah Memorial Trophy this year for the fifth time. The school also produced medal winning boxers at international meets including the SAF Games. Sivali M.V's sweat and toil in the field was perhaps best reflected in the words of former boxer turned coach, Wasantha Kumara who wexed that, 'our worst day was to have lost the L. V. Jayaweera Trophy to Royal last year when the meet was held in our own backyard - Ratnapura.' "But we thought to atone the loss, this year we would not only beat Royal at Royal College for the T. B. Jayah Trophy, but also bring back the L. V. Jayaweera Trophy which we did." Indeed, for the boxers from Sivali, who marched in with their glittering trophies, it is a type of 'rags to riches' story if not as wholesome. They have Caltex - dealers in the lubricant industry, seeing to their financial needs which found an ever grateful Principal D. M. Gunaratne finding Caltex as the one and only of its kind to have come to the assistance of the less affluent. And they did walk off with a Caltex gift pack each as a token of appreciation for their boxing success. If St. Michael's, Polwatte was once the feeding base of boxers such as the Bulners, today, it is the boxers from Sivali M.V. who have emerged from the country's backyards. As coach Wasantha boasted, 'we have a girls team as well for the last two years at Sivali M. V.' |
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