Manju makes Dian’s dream come true

Dinesh WEERAWANSA

It was a red letter day in the annals of Sri Lanka’s sports when boxer Manju Wanniarachchi won the country’s first Commonwealth Games boxing gold after 72 years.

A new chapter in sports revolution of Sri Lanka under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s inspiring leadership was written in letters of gold with Warriarachchi’s memorable win over Sean McGoldrick of Wales to win the gold medal in the bantamweight 56kg category final at the Tal Katora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi last evening.

Wanniarachchi’s golden feat is a welcome sign towards Sri Lanka’s bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Hambantota. Young Parliamentarian and former Sri Lanka Youth rugby captain Namal Rajapaksa has taken a keen interest to bring the Commonwealth to Sri Lanka and Wanniarachchi’s golden feat yesterday would no doubt help Sri Lanka’s bid.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated boxer Wanniarachchi for his record breaking feat and making Sri Lanka proud. Immediately after Wanniarachchi’s golden feat, the sports-loving President telephoned the Lankan boxer and congratulated him for making Sri Lanka proud. President Rajapaksa is due to attend Thursday’s closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games as Guest of honour and is expected to meet the young lad who kept the Lion flag fluttering high in the Commonwealth Games.

My mind goes back to Year 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney when Sri Lanka’s sprint queen brought home Sri Lanka’s first Olympic medal in 52 years. All of us at the Sydney Olympic Stadium felt proud to be Sri Lankans as the lion flag was fluttering high. All Sri Lankans at Tal Katora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi would have experienced similar feelings.

When the success story of Sri Lanka boxing is spoken about, one cannot forget the immense contributions made by Dian Gomes, the former Sri Lanka boxing chief who has spent his precious time, wealth and more. Ring sport, Gomes has made immense contributions.

I personally know what an exemplary role he has played to promote boxing and he is the godfather of Sri Lanka boxing.

Unfortunately, on most occasions, our boxers have not been able to turn Gomes’ dedication, devotion and sacrifices into results. Many who knew nothing about sport, especially a body-contact sport such as boxing, laughed at Gomes when Sri Lanka failed to impress at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. But as a true sportsman and gentleman sports administrator, above all a great promoter of sport, Gomes was determined in defeat. He vowed to bounce back in couple of years and today, his own employee from MAS Holdings has not only silenced his critics but has also given a priceless catch to Sri Lanka sport and to satisfy the man who has done so much for the ring sport.

I have seen what a classic motivater Gomes has been. Despite being the CEO, he is a caring father to his employees competing in boxing. Taking the boxer to the warm up venue, then to the ring, even tightening the shoe lace and gloves, refreshing during intervals all were personally handled by himself. Gomes wanted to do all those by himself because he believed in perfection and motivating factor. Imagine the CEO scouting and tightening shoe lace of a middle grade employee of his own company! Gomes injected that rich culture to Slimline and MAS Holdings family.

At a time we are celebrating the joy of gold, we must not forget the man who gave all that freedom to MAS Intimates CEO Dian Gomes to go places with the Slimline sporting family Mahes Amalean, Chairman of MAS Holdings. They made the Slimline factory premises at Pannala a breeding ground for outstanding young sportsmen and women, providing them employment, nourishments, facilities and intensive training. They have proved that nothing is impossible if there is a will!