Nethmi: first SL wrestler to win a Commonwealth Games medal

Eighteen-year-old Nethmi Ahinsa Poruthotage left a lasting impression while winning Bronze for Sri Lanka at the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.

In the women’s 57kg, Nethmi was pitted against the experienced Irene Symeonidis of Australia, and the teenager from Sri Lanka showed no fear on the big stage, dominating her opponent from the start and scoring 10 straight technically correct points to secure the victory with the minimum of fuss.

This medal was historic in more ways than one, with Nethmi being the first wrestler to win a Commonwealth Games medal for Sri Lanka, as well as being the youngest in history to win a medal as well.

Her story is a glowing example of how far athletes can go given the proper backing, with Nethmi being a member of the Crysbro Next Champ Programme over the past eleven months.

The programme, conducted in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee (NOC), is intended to empower the next generation of young athletes to be the next big Olympic hopes for the nation.

The schoolgirl from Welapalla in Kurunegala owed her grit and determination in winning a medal to Sri Lanka, putting her through a two-month training stint in Hungary to good use, where she got exposure to top-level athletes and competition through the International National Olympic Committee.

The United World Wrestling (UWW) and the Hungary Wrestling Federation, alongside Crysbro, initiated and funded the “Next Champ” initiative.

Hopefully, this bronze medal will just be the start of bigger and better things to come, and Nethmi has the potential to be a star in Sri Lankan sports for another decade or more.

The triumph of Nethmi is a shining example of the talent available in Sri Lanka and the heights they can rise to if they are given the necessary international exposure and local corporate backing.