Sri Lanka wins three bronze medals at the Third World Mauy Boran Championships 2016 

The Third World Mauy Boran Championships 2016 took place in March early this year in Bangkok, and a team representing our country participated in it. Besides Sri Lanka there were 40 other countries in the arena. Establishing our skills internationally, our team brought home three bronze medals won from three different weight categories. 

According to Kru Rohan Thushara, the team managing to secure three bronze medals were equivalent to gold medals due to the many difficulties they had to face. “All of us who participated in this time’s championships are working. So amidst work we managed to make time to train for this.” It is during this international event that Kru Roshan Thushara completed the Kru course which was conducted by some of the best and experienced instructors and trainers in the world. 

Lead to glory by Captain Michael Nuwan Perera, some of the medallists on the team include Ahmed Hayyan, Dilshard Malik Dane, and Janaka Muthunayake. The entire team is brand new to international tournaments with the exception being Dilshard. Interesting enough Ahmed Hayyan is Maldivian by birth but has no inhibition to proudly represent Sri Lanka “It is my first international tournament and I won a bronze medal. I studied my opponent and had a good game plan, I believe that is what got me through” 

Dilshard Malik Dane who was the first Sri Lankan to win a medal for Mauy Thai had more expectations for himself this time, “I went with the ambition of winning a gold medal this time. And although my performance has improved since last time, the tournament this time was much tougher”. Not inhibited by the results, Dilshard determined more than ever to bring home the gold at the next championships. 

When it comes to talent age is no barrier, and no one certifies this statement more than 14 year old Janaka Muthunayake who won the bronze medal for the 41 k weight category. “My opponents were taller and bigger than me. At first I was really nervous, but then after the second round I knew I was ok”.  He further continued “The experience was great. I know now that I have to focus more on defence techniques”. The other two participants include Vimukthi Abeynayake and Evishka Thibbatuwa who credits the teams victory to Kru Rohan Thushara “I’ve experience many teachers and I can sincerely say that he is the most dedicated master I have had the privilege of training under”. 

“I am very happy with the team’s performance. We achieved such results with a month’s training. For the next tournament we should start training right now. Imagine what we would achieve then?” concluded Michael. One particular area the entire team agreed regarding their performance is the lack of ring exposure whilst training. However it is a setback which Kru Rohan is determined to overcome and will do so hopefully in the near future. 

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By Shazzana Hamid