Manju wins gold for Lanka
First boxing gold in 72 years:
Chinthana WASALA reporting from New Delhi
Manju Wanniarachchi burst into tears. So did the team manager Dian
Gomes. Tears of joy. He rewrote history books. Ended the 72 year long
jinx in boxing after years of commitment.
The National anthem of Sri Lanka was played at the Tal Kotara Stadium
in New Delhi yesterday.
That was the time when Manju Wanniarachchi won the first boxing gold
medal for Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games after William Henricus did
in 1938 Auckland games.
With massive support from spectators at the Tal Katora Boxing
Stadium, Wanniarachchi did Sri Lanka proud by beating his tough opponent
from Wales Sean Mc Goldrick in the Bantam Weight (56kg) category final.
The points were seven all at the end of three rounds but the judges
decided Wanniarachchi as the winner after the accepted total of scores
read 16-14 in favour of him.
It was a bout to remember. Wanniarachchi said he was confident of
victory and he was not returning home without a gold medal. That was
what he proved from the beginning.
From the beginning of the first round, the duo went head to head. The
Welsh started to collect the points and scored the first one. But
Wanniarachchi’s was determined. Both exchanged some heavy punches but
their techniques of blocking kept the points slow.
The first round ended 3-3. The second round saw the Welsh coming
forward and the Lankan had to fight harder. His opponent was good at
blocking Wanniarachchi’s deadly strikes and the second round ended with
6-5 on the board with the Welshman in the lead.
The third and final round was a one to watch. The best of talent from
both boxers was seen. The crowed continuously cheered. Wanniarachchi
equalled at 6-6, then Mc Goldring took the lead at 7-6 but soon it was
7-7.
The bell rang and the decision of the judges was in favour of the
Lankan who was hungry for the Gold. The final result was 16-14, ending
the 72 year long jinx of Gold for Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Games.
President congratulates
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was among the first to congratulate
Wanniarachchi for his achievement when he contacted the Golden boy
through the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India Prasad Kariyawasam.
Wanniarachchi thanked President Rajapaksa for his continuous support for
sports in Sri lanka.
“I prepared hard for a gold medal at this level for a long time. I
lost at Manchester, could not get trough at the Melbourne Games, but I
did not give up.
My efforts, the support extended by my coaches, Dian sir, and our
continuous efforts are the main factors behind this victory” said
Wanniarachchi at the end of the most memorable day of his life.
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