Hettiarachchi, Sandeepani shine as Hemamali creates boxing history

 File photo of Vidusha Hettiarachchi fighting against a Kazakhstan boxer on his international debut at the Asian Youth and Under-22 Championship in Colombo

By Allaam Ousman

Vidusha Sansitha Hettiarachchi of Royal College and Nikesala Sandeepani of Koraboruwana MV, Kamburupitiya, were adjudged the most scientific boxers at the 106th edition of the Stubbs Shield, held as part of the National School Games.

Hettiarachchi, 19, who burst into the limelight last year when he was named Best Boxer at the T.B. Jayah Novices Meet while representing D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo, once again proved his class. He displayed superb ring-craft and technical mastery to outpoint seasoned St. Sylvester’s College campaigner Sanduni Heshan in the Senior Boys 52-56kg weight class final. His victory helped Royal College end as runners-up at the Stubbs Shield Championship. 

A bronze medallist at the Stubbs last year, Hettiarachchi has blossomed into a complete fighter since moving to Royal College. He won silver at the Youth Championship in Kandy before earning selection to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Youth and Under-22 Championships in Colombo, where he lost a spirited points decision to a Kazakh boxer. 

He also donned national colours at the Asian Under-19 and Under-22 Championships in July. On Thursday, his fast hands and precise combinations were too much for Heshan, who had just recovered from dengue but had to settle for his second successive silver medal at the Stubbs.

Meanwhile, Sandeepani confirmed her status as one of the country’s brightest emerging female stars. 

The Koraboruwana MV fighter outpointed R.M.S.G. Rathnayake of Hemamali Girls’ College, Kandy, to capture the Senior Girls 51-54kg crown. Rathnayake, who had stunned Asian Youth and Under-22 Championship bronze medallist Hiruni Fernando of Vihara Mahadevi Balika, Kiribathgoda in the semi-finals, fought bravely but could not stop Sandeepani’s momentum in an enthralling final.

A bronze medallist herself at the Asian Youth and Under-22 Championships in Colombo, Sandeepani has steadily built her career since striking gold at the Donald Munasinghe Freshers Meet in 2022. 

She was adjudged Best Boxer at last year’s Youth Championship and won silver at the 49th National Sports Festival earlier this year. This was her third Stubbs gold medal, adding to her triumphs in 2022 and 2023. Trained by Akila Rajapaksa, Koraboruwana MV’s girls shone with four medals at this year’s meet.

The spotlight, however, belonged to Hemamali Girls’ College, Kandy. Captained by national star Chathuri Jathya Siriwardana, they emerged overall champions at the National School Games for the first time in history. All six of their boxers reached the finals, with five striking gold, underlining their rise as a powerhouse in schools boxing within just four years.

Their success was masterminded by coach Jamitha Gayan Bandara, who also guided St. Sylvester’s College to a record-equalling 19th Stubbs Shield triumph. Bandara’s most outstanding protégé is 19-year-old Chathuri Siriwardana, who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Under-19 and Under-22 Championships in Thailand in July. A silver medallist at this year’s National Sports Festival, Siriwardana has already collected five Best Boxer awards during her fledgling career, including one at last year’s National School Games.

“That experience was very important for my growth as a boxer,” said Siriwardana of her international debut. 

The only child in the family in Digana, Kandy, Siriwardana lives and breathes boxing, inspired by her father Anura Siriwardana, a former boxer and rugby player at St. Sylvester’s College. “He has always motivated me and continues to be my idol in life and in boxing.

“At Hemamali, more and more children are now coming into boxing. There are about twenty students following in my footsteps, which makes me really happy. I know they are looking up to me as an example.

“My dream is to box for Sri Lanka at the Olympics. I am focusing on the flyweight division,” said Siriwardana, who has also won Best Boxer awards at the BASL Novices and Youth Championships.

She added: “Boxing has given me so much confidence. To win the Stubbs twice and to be recognised as one of the top boxers in Sri Lanka is a dream come true,” she reflected.

Other Hemamali standouts included Punsara Thithagalla, a bronze medallist at the Asian Youth and Under-22 Championships in Colombo and Nethmi Herath, further strengthening their status as a rising force in schools boxing.