Nadeeka aims to continue Anusha’s boxing legacy
Nadeeka Ranasinghe underlined her credentials as the leading woman pugilist in the country when she was adjudged the most scientific boxer at the 94th National Boxing Championships. The 28-year-old Light Fly (48kg) weight boxer impressed with her style, technique and ringcraft to outpoint her rival from Unichela Anuthara Ranasinghe to bag her second consecutive National title and also the best boxer’s award.
Boxing is second nature to Nepal South Asian Games bronze medallist Ranasinghe Arachchige Nadeeka Pushpakumari. She is ready to continue the legacy of the now retired Anusha Kodituwakku who dominated this weight class for nearly two decades.
“My dream is to win an Olympic medal,” declared Nadeeka who relentlessly pursued her boxing career despite falling at the final hurdle at the Nationals on six occasions before tasting success.
The only girl to take up boxing at Vidyarathane University College, Horana when she gained admission there to do her A/Ls, Nadeeka honed her skills sparring with boys under the watchful eyes of her coach Amila Aravinda.
“In the first week of training, I thought it was karate and not boxing,” recalled Nadeeka who struck gold at the Junior National Boxing Championship in 2010 as her career blossomed when she represented Unichela after leaving school.
A Physical Training Instructor by profession at Bulathsinhala Central College since 2017, Nadeeka is willing to go the extra mile to perfect her boxing skills, even travelling 17 kilometres daily to train at Vidyarathane after school hours.
“Most of the time I train alone following the training schedules given by my coach and also still spar with the boys at Vidyarathane,” says Nadeeka, the youngest in a family of five who has her feet firmly on the ground coming from a farming family.
She turned down an opportunity to join the Police women’s cadre but is tough-as-nails in the ring despite her mild mannered demeanour outside it.