Gomes pursues dream of going for boxing gold in 2022 Commonwealth Games

0

By A Special Correspondent

Dian Gomes has rekindled his dream of winning a gold medal in boxing by unveiling a four-year plan when he began his third term as President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) a week ago.

Buoyed by the success at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games where Sri Lanka won three bronze medals, after a hiatus of 68 years, including a maiden success by a woman pugilist,  Anusha Kodituwakku, the BASL President is targeting gold at the 2022 Birmingham Games. There is also the Asian Games and 2024 Olympic Games in Paris to aim for.

Sri Lanka boxing has a proud record of winning 41 medals, including nine gold and 15 silver, as elite men and women boxers took part in the 35 international tournament, while youth pugilists won five medals including three silver during the last four years.

The renaissance in boxing did not happen overnight. It took time, effort, commitment and inspirational leadership of the BASL to bring the game to its present level.

For a sport that has been vilified and maligned by some and adored and revered by others, boxing has risen phoenix-like in Sri Lanka over the past few years. Professional administration, grass-root coaching and international exposure have been the cornerstone of this resurgence, and at the helm of this concerted effort has been a man now synonymous with inspirational leadership – Dian Gomes.

Gomes speaks of the commitment of his team as the sole reason for the renaissance of the sport, humbly crediting his success to a sixth sense which helps him identify talent. “Getting the right people for the right job is the key to success, be it in business or in sports administration – it is the right team that produces the best results,” he stated.

His executive team speaks volumes for his strategy of working with the best. Former Chief of Defence Staff, reputed Stubbs Shield Best Boxer and Gomes’ team mate at Royal College, General (Rtd) Jagath Jayasuriya, handles the selection. South Asian Games silver medallist and Senior Superintendent of Police, Saman Gunaratne of STF  and former Olympic Coach Wasantha Kumara have joined hands with Gomes’ administration for the first time to function as the Vice Presidents. Former National Champion and ITO (International Technical Official) Lt. Col. (Rtd) Hemantha Weerasinghe will serve as the Secretary of the Association, while former Royal Stubbs Shield champion and banker,Aubrey Peires, will function as the Treasurer. Another former Royal captain, Abdulla Ibunu, is the Assistant Secretary.

Upon taking the reins of the presidency of the BASL in 2017, Gomes and his team immediately embarked on a three-pronged strategy aimed at bringing out the best.

France’s leading Montana Belt tournament held in Paris in April 2017, saw Thiwanka Ranasinghe and Roshan Warnasuriya bringing home two gold medals. In June the same year,  both boxers won two silver medals at the Haringey Box Cup held in London.

The Taipei City Cup held in August 2017 saw a contingent of five boxers taking part. Dinidu Saparamadu won a gold medal, whilst Thiwanka Ranasinghe secured a bronze medal. At the Eindhoven Box cup held in the Netherlands, a contingent of 13 boxers won two gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal. The golds were won by Dinudu Saparamadu and Thiwanka Ranasinghe. And at the Golden Glove International tournament the same boxers won two silver medals,  while Nuwan Amarawansha won a bronze medal.

The XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia saw the participation of six boxers. This event was one of the great achievements for boxing in Sri Lanka. Ishan Bandara and Thiwanka Ranasinghe won two bronze medals for Sri Lanka after 68 years, while Anusha Kodituwakku won a bronze medal and recorded the first Commonwealth women medal for the country.

In the same year Keshani Hansika secured a bronze medal at the 2nd Indonesian Police Commissioner Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the Taipei City Cup in Taiwan two school boxers, P.V.S. Himanjith of S. Thomas’ College and H.M.K.C. Ekanayake of Dheerananda College, Pilimathalawa, won two bronze medals.

Sri Lankan boxers won 11 medals including a gold, two silver and eight bronze medals at the 2019 Kathmandu South Asian Games. The gold medal was won by Romesh Sandakelum,  while two bronze medals were won by Krishmi Dharmmathilaka and Dinesh Maduranga. The Eindhoven Cup held in the Netherlands saw Purnima Jayasuriya and Dhananjaya Weerasinghe winning a silver and a bronze medal respectively. The Kings Cup International tournament held in Sweden saw Sri Lankan youth boxers bringing three silver medals. The medals were won by Vikneswaran Sanujan, Attaab Mannzil and Isuru Hansaja.

Gomes also paved the way for Romesh Sandakelum, Krishmi Dharmathilaka and Dinesh Maduranga to be sent for Olympic selection trials held in Amman, Jordan, at the beginning of this year before the Covid epidemic. These matches were an opportunity of a lifetime to fight the best boxers in the world.

Asked about his plans for this year, Gomes saidthere are several competitions coming up in 2021. “We have the Asian men and women boxing championships followed by the final qualification for the Olympic Games in 2021. Much is expected from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2020 and South Asian Games in 2022, which has been announced to be held in Lahore, Pakistan.  Every day we are getting closer to our target of winning an Olympic medal and that is the most important thing,” Gomes opined.

-ENCL

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

otc high blood pressure treatment blood pressure guidelines medications blood pressure pills that is safe for the liver high blood pressure medication levothyroxine blood pressure medication that reduces blood pressure is there any difference in blood pressure pills high blood pressure child medication blood pressure medication recommendation nose blue blood pressure medication blood pressure is 150 68 should i take my medication blood pressure medication while nursing taking a bunch of high blood pressure pills aerobic exercise and blood pressure medication good blood pressure medication acupuncture treatment for low blood pressure best over the counter pills for high blood pressure blood pressure pill amlodipine besylate high blood pressure signs and treatment moderna vaccine blood pressure medication which blood pressure drugs do not cause tinnitus blood pressure medication fights cancer blood pressure medication skin rash side effects of high blood pressure medication impotence medication to avoid on blood pressure medications high blood pressure rx medication peripheral neuropathy caused by blood pressure medication high blood pressure in pregnancy treatment nice runny nose do to blood pressure medication how to get off of blood pressure pills hiv medication and high blood pressure niacin treatment for high blood pressure two drugs for blood pressure that caused cancer high blood pressure causing medications high blood pressure medication names canada blood pressure medication side effects alcohol i take 3 blood pressure medication blood pressure pills that help with anxiety what iv drug raises blood pressure list of doctors who formulated blood pressure medications how to remember blood pressure medications sleeping pills blood pressure how fast does blood pressure medication take effect sweet n low high blood pressure medication home treatment for blood pressure high blood pressure medication matrocet high blood pressure medication doses blood pressure drug bystolic iberstaron blood pressure medication blood pressure medications st alphabetical celexa and high blood pressure medication does blood pressure pills irritation skin can i take combivent with high blood pressure medication blood pressure medications beta blockers list what to do if blood pressure medication does not work drugs to lower your blood pressure red beet pills for blood pressure taurine and blood pressure medications how ling for garlic pills to lower blood pressure blood pressure medication list and side effects can i take aspirin with high blood pressure medication blood pressure medication teaching about hot tubs water pills high blood pressure over counter what is an arb medication for blood pressure resveratrol high blood pressure medication high blood pressure medication and weight loss gum disease and blood pressure medication benzenesulfonic acid in blood pressure medication taking two blood pressure pills by mistake allergy pills for high blood pressure blood pressure prescription drugs safety blood pressure medication in pregnancy trazodone and blood pressure medication which blood pressure medication is linked to skin cancer list of blood pressure medications with the least side effects could blood pressure medication make blood thicker disadvantages of high blood pressure medication blood pressure medications ludipril typical drugs for high blood pressure otc water pills for high blood pressure blood pressure medications that do not doncause bowel blockage high blood pressure after corrosion treatment how soon does high blood pressure medication work blood pressure medication teaching amertyrine high blood pressure medication increased blood pressure and heart rate after drug overdose over the counter drugs high blood pressure blood pressure medication 25 is blood pressure medication a nitrate most effective blood pressure pills blood pressure medical does red yeast rice interfere with high blood pressure medication can apple cider vinegar pills lower blood pressure does blood pressure medication give you headaches high blood pressure medication and driving should you take blood pressure pills with food inn blood pressure drugs can you eat bananas if taking blood pressure medication popular high blood pressure medication blood pressure medication los blood pressure medication second drug low blood pressure and hypertension medication do water pills lower blood pressure high blood pressure pill aqunadine high blood pressure cholesterol medication how does medication lower blood pressure acetaminophen blood pressure medication blood pressure medication 30 mg that works around the heart what does grapefruit do to blood pressure medication can red yeast rice be taken with blood pressure medication pharmaceutical treatment for high blood pressure are blood pressure pills statins blood pressure pills that start with r blood pressure medication and male impotence taking baby aspirin with other high blood pressure medications what is the medical name for a blood pressure cuff leg cramps and blood pressure medication blood pressure pill name starts with p natural high blood pressure treatments blood pressure medication names losartan higher blood pressure with radiation treatment medical marijauna high blood pressure how to avoid medication for high blood pressure what time is best to take blood pressure medication medication for palpitations and high blood pressure latest news on blood pressure treatment what if i take two blood pressure pills does xanax interfere with blood pressure medication amlipan blood pressure medication vitamin e and blood pressure medication tell me the side effects of high blood pressure medication herbs pills to lower blood pressure blood pressure medication urge to urinate what medication will safely replace lisop as blood pressure medicine active ingredient in high blood pressure medication blood pressure medications cause adrenal tumors is biktarvy ok to take with high blood pressure medication alembic blood pressure medication sandoz blood pressure medication exercise high blood pressure medication grapefruit pills blood pressure treatment for high blood pressure at home blood pressure medication for patients with osa cycle on off blood pressure medication blood pressure drugs that do not cause heat sensitivity blood pressure medications that do not cause coughing what blood pressure medications do not cause rosacea pfizer blood pressure medication side effects do garlic pills really help lower blood pressure should i take medication for anxiety induced blood pressure treatment for uncontrolled blood pressure decongestant medication high blood pressure can stiff days be used with high blood pressure medication how long does it take medication to lower blood pressure what if i miss a blood pressure pill tribenzor high blood pressure pills law lawsuit 2023 treatment of sudden drop in blood pressure zoloft and blood pressure medication orange high blood pressure pill cancer blood pressure pill why cant people with high blood pressure take keto pills how long for blood pressure to go down mini pill should i get second opinion before taking blood pressure medication blood pressure erectile dysfunction medication high blood pressure medication m lot ben medical device lowers blood pressure puppy ate blood pressure pill are there medications for low blood pressure dod blood pressure medication is losartan a blood pressure pill combination drugs for blood pressure marijuana and blood pressure medication interaction blood pressure medication interactions with grapefruit can you eat bananas while taking high blood pressure medication steps before going on high blood pressure medication blood pressure medication when to cut down foods to avoid on blood pressure medication blood pressure medications depression blood pressure medication non beta blocker tattoos and high blood pressure medication what is the medications used to lower blood pressure quickly high blood pressure medication leg swelling blood pressure medication men in your 40s blood pressure medication wieight loss blood pressure medication hy can blood pressure medication lower blood sugar does blood pressure medication make you pee natural treatment high blood pressure during pregnancy can you take l arginine with high blood pressure medication what class of blood pressure medication can can blood pressure pills reduce appetite faa approved medication for high blood pressure high blood pressure medication during pregnancy best blood pressure medication for type 2 diabetes blood pressure and pain medication pain medication that does not affect blood pressure best high blood pressure drugs on the market if you take incorrect medications to lower blood pressure low blood pressure treatments does your body have to adjust to blood pressure medication why water pill for high blood pressure drugs for treatment of very high blood pressure during pregnancy can i drink grapefruit juice with high blood pressure medication can blood pressure pills make you feel cold high blood pressure medication that helps with weight loss amlodipine blood pressure drug blood pressure medication for infants varicose veins blood pressure medication life extension high blood pressure medication does tylenol interfere with blood pressure medication can i take diamox with other high blood pressure medications prestige medical blood pressure cuff calibration drugs used for high blood pressure chamomile tea and high blood pressure medication narcotics stored alongside blood pressure medications in does nutrigrove blood pressure pills work extremely low blood pressure treatment blood pressure medication for iga nephropathy blood pressure medication low side effects can i increase my blood pressure medication what is the best blood pressure medication to take drugs that cause increased blood pressure does biotin interfere with high blood pressure medication cani od on high blood pressure pills blood pressure medication that also helps with jerking blood pressure medication categories first line treatment of high blood pressure medication for low blood pressure in usa armour thyroid drug interactions blood pressure meds hepatitis c treatment high blood pressure high blood pressure arb drugs low blood pressure treatment with essential oils high blood pressure medication list for pregnancy blood pressure medication and snake venom blood pressure medication low dose liquid blood pressure medications ivf drugs and high blood pressure left my blood pressure medication does it matter when you take blood pressure medication can you take blood pressure pills twice a day privilin blood pressure medication how big are blood pressure pills once you start blood pressure medication can you stop diuretic in blood pressure medication what medication reduce blood pressure new blood pressure treatment prescribed home medications for high blood pressure blood pressure medication side effects forums taking blood pressure pills dizzy when bend over a lot blood pressure medication and nyquil cinnamon pills and high blood pressure temporary high blood pressure treatment single agent blood pressure medication blood pressure medication made in china fda approved medications to reduce blood pressure immediate treatment for high blood pressure at home best time to take blood pressure pills muscle loss on high blood pressure medication blood pressure medication when needed treat high blood pressure without medication blood pressure medication side effects for men cbd pills for high blood pressure blood pressure regulation without medication blood pressure medication and pre workout high blood pressure alzheimer disease and antihypertensive treatment miss blood pressure medication blood pressure pills suicide peaceful emergency drugs for low blood pressure common blood pressure medications in canada systolic blood pressure define medical viril and high blood pressure pills can statin drugs help lower blood pressure do you have to wean off blood pressure medication new drugs for blood pressure when is high blood pressure medication necessary drugs for hi blood pressure cold medications and blood pressure taking 2 blood pressure pills mistake why doctors stopped prescribing blood pressure medication common high blood pressure medication canada what side effects does blood pressure medication have ulcer medication high blood pressure can high blood pressure medication elevate alkaline phosphatase blood pressure medication warning getting blood pressure medication jamaica alkaline water and blood pressure medication blood pressure going up and down with medication drugs reduce systolic blood pressure treatment for rapid high blood pressure low blood pressure alternative treatment do all high blood pressure medications cause weight gain medication for increasing blood pressure blood pressure medication for african american males vitamins for high blood pressure treatment aleve with blood pressure medication how to lower blood pressure without pills blood pressure triple pill who blood pressure guidelines for hygiene treatment what drug reduces blood pressure blood pressure medications enalapril met blood pressure medication