Leslie Donovan Perera Handunge - Sri Lanka's first Olympic boxer

by Hafiz Marikar

FLASHBACK: The first Sri Lankan to enter an Olympic ring and win a bout was the second son of Kandy to blaze the Olympic trail. He was Leslie Donovan Perera Handunge. At school he was known as Perera.

He was remembered by all sports lovers of Kandy, specially by the Boxing, Cricket and Rugby lovers. He was one of the finest sportsmen Kandy produced.

He became the best Director of Physical Education at the Peradeniya University, yet to be replaced by his class of work. When he was in charge of all the grounds at Peradeniya, they were in perfect condition, even international cricket matches were played before Sri Lanka got Test status.

Leslie Handunge represented Ceylon at the 1948 Olympic Games and was the first Ceylonese to enter an Olympic ring and win an Olympic bout by beating Mexcican Tello in the men's - flyweight, ranking 9th at the 1952 Olympic Games representing the Ceylon team.

He joined Trinity College as a schoolboy from Matale, and was guided in the correct path by the coaches. He excelled at Trinity College in four major events - cricket, boxing, rugby and athletics.

After leaving school, he played inter-club hockey and football for Kandy Rovers and was rated as one of the finest center forwards in hockey.

In football he played as left-inside. Leslie played rugger for Kandy Sports Club and Up-Country. He was the master in every sport he played.

Later Leslie became one of the best rugger referees and for years he officiated in the Trinity-Royal under 17 game as referee, and when Kandy Lake Club was playing in the "B" division, he was the one and only referee to handle this game which had controversies. He was famous for his lectures when at refereeing matches. He also refereed football games and was an umpire at cricket and hockey.

When Leslie was handling the University playgrounds at Peradeniya as Director of Physical Education, the only place which had four sports fields together, first was the Tennis court, then next Hockey and the Athletics, followed by Cricket grounds with a turf wicket, after he left, a matting was laid by the side of the turf, and the last was the football and rugger grounds, all in-a-row.

He maintained and kept the grounds in perfect condition.

The Bradby Shield Rugby game used to be played and there were foreign teams that played cricket matches. This ground was famous for GI sheet pavilions.

Leslie was a Diploma Holder in Physical Education of Lougborough College, UK, and became the first Sri Lankan to obtain his Diploma and obtained Masters Degree in Physical Education from Springfield, USA. He had to work his way through at both these institutions.

In Boxing, he won his first National title in 1944 in the Flyweight Class and also won the best boxer's award at he Intermediate, Albert Perera Fairwell Meet and National Championships.

He represented the University of Ceylon at Boxing and Rugger, and was the British and Irish Universities' BantamWeight Champion while at Loughbpropugh College.

He was invited back by the ABA of Sri Lanka to participate in the final boxing trials for the 1950 - Empire Games, but was unable to leave UK. He retired as undefeated Flyweight boxing champion of Sri Lanka in 1952.

In the 1960's, 70's and 80's, Leslie was the most experienced and highest qualified sports administrator and physical educationist. He was a firm believer in sport being made available to the many as against the concentration of competitive sports for gifted few.

His ring philosophy is to out-wit and out-think his opponent and not merely to out punch him. In keeping with the thinking of boxing greats like Sugar Ray Robinson, Mohamed Ali, whom Leslie met once, Jack Johnson and Jim Corbett. Leslie Handunge was determined to see that youths and adults engaged in sport, always play the game, with him specially in the combative and contact sports, this was his first consideration.

He held office with Kandy Football, Hockey, Boxing, Cricket and Athletics Associations and helped every sport with ground facilities.

It was he who helped schools to play cricket at Peradeniya, and also gave a big hand for hockey at school and club level.

A gentleman with principals, a strict disciplinarian and a great promoter of all sports and a willing helper to any sportsman during the times of difficulty by way of valuable advise, sports equipments and financial assistance when required.

Leslie is no more, but people who have moved with him and knows his qualities in the field of sports, will never ever forget him.