Lesley Hadnunge - first Sri Lankan to enter Olympic ring and win a bout

Hafiz MARIKAR

Lesley D.P. Handunge, who started his education in Matale, later came to Trinity College, Was known as Perera in school. Always remembered by all sports lovers of Kandy especially by the boxing and rugby lovers during his period of time. He was one of the finest sportsmen Kandy produced and is the Physical Education Director at the Peradeniya University.

Lesley was the second son of Kandy to blaze the Olympic trail. He represented Ceylon at the 1948 Olympic Games and was the first Ceylonese to enter an Olympic ring and win an Olympic bout he led the Ceylon team to the 1952 Olympic Games.

He had his graduation at Trinity College in four major games, Cricket, Boxing, Rugby and Athletics, after leaving school he played inter club hockey, football for Kandy Rovers and rugger for Kandy Rovers and the next for Kandy Sports Club.

As Director Physical Education of the Peradeniya University he was in charge of the University play grounds at Peradeniya, the only venue which had a four sports fields together, first was the Tennis courts, next Hockey and Athletics thereafter, Cricket grounds and the other one was for football and rugby, all in a row. He maintained the kept these venues in topping condition and above all under his control where no one could violate the conditions laid by him pertaining to the grounds at any given time. During his time when cricket teams visited form overseas, when Asgiriya was not available matches were played at Peradeniya.

Lesley was a Diploma holder in Physical Education of Loughborough College, UK, and became the first Sri Lanka to obtain this Diploma and obtained Masters Degree in Physical Education from Springfield, USA. He had to work his way through at both these Institutions.

He won his first National title in 1944 in the fly weight. He won the best boxers award at his intermediate. Albert Perera Farwell Meet and National Championships. He represented the University of Ceylon at Boxing and Rugger, and was the British and Irish Universities Bantam Weight Champion while at the Loughbpropugh College.

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

In the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s Lesley was the most experienced and highly qualified sports administrator and physical educator and 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 keeping with the thinking of boxing greats like Sugar Ray Robinson, Mohamed Ali, whom Lesley met once, later Jack Johnson and Jim Corbett. He was more concerned to see that all youth and adults engaged in sport and always playing game, with him specially in the combative and contact sports, this was his first consideration.

At Rugby his affiliation after his boxing career was enormous, his interest of this game was initially towards his Alma-mata, after office hours he drives down to Asgiriya where the boys are in training and contributed immensely for over two decades.

Whenever there was a controversy in the game of rugby he was there at the fore front with the rule book, statistics etc to argue the point. In many a occasion he had the better of it as he proved the point without any doubt. He later joined the CRFU Referees Society and became an ‘A’ Division referee of repute, most of the key games were officiated by him in Kandy, even whether it was a game where Trinity played he refereed and the spectators never ever doubted his decisions.

A disciplinarian on and off the field with no favoritism to anyone. He was also instrumental in developing rugby at the University of Peradeniya and was able to train some of the undergrads from the University of Peradeniya, some of them I remember are S.U. Mendis, Sarath Illangathilake, M.T.M. Zarook, Dr. Harry Rasiah, Farouk Omar, His representation in the Up-Country rugby as spokesman was a notable feature where he gained recognition and due to his focus the University of Peradeniya was awarded ‘A’ Division status along with Kandy SC, Dimbulla ACC, Dickoya MCC, Uva, Kelani Valley. In 1976 when resolutions were made to the Sports Law several recommendation to benefit the outstation players were included.

In one instant he proposed in the 1960’s that the Ceylon Rugby Football Union be shifted to Kandy as majority of the ‘A’ Divisions clubs are from the Up-country and it was nothing but fare that the Union Head Quarters be stationed in Kandy.

In 1970’s he also served the Rugby Union as a Council Member being a representative from the University of Peradeniya. Served in the Kandy Sports Club Committee as adviser to rugby and sports injuries along with Dr. V.C. de Silva.

A former Trinitian Dr. Lakshman Karaliyade, a keen follower of Boxing, wants to present trophy or sponsor a boxer in memory of Lesely Hadunge, the ideal man to be contacted is non other than the great promoter of boxing Dian Gomez.

His memories are still remembered by those of us who have dealt with him during his time. We always valued the happy working relationship that existed over so many years between Lesley and us. Believe me, it was great pleasure to serve him during that time with his humor.

He died of accident few years back. Though Lesley is no more, he is a man who is remembered by sports loving public of Kandy.