Sri Lanka woman boxer wins gold

By Saroj Pathirana
BBC Sinhala

Ms Jayasinghe (left) hopes it is a new beginning for Sri Lankan boxing

Sri Lanka's first female boxer to clinch a world title says she is delighted with the gold medal she won in Russia at the weekend.

Nilmini Jayasinghe won in the under 51kg category at the world invitational women's boxing championship in St Petersburg on Saturday.

Ms Jayasinghe was a garment worker who started practising at the gym of the factory she worked at.

She told the BBC's Sinhala service that she could not believe her achievement.

"I have previously attended three World Championships and only managed to win a few preliminary events," she said.

"I think this is a great achievement for Sri Lanka's women boxers."

Ms Jayasinghe (left) has high hopes for women's boxing in Sri Lanka

Fellow Sri Lankan, Anusha Kodituwakku secured the bronze medal for the under 46kg category at the same championship.

Jayasinghe defeated her Canadian counterpart Mandy Dujold at the finals but analysts say her victories against Ukrainian and Russian opponents on her way to the finals surprised many.

"I can't imagine how I managed to qualify for the finals. It was so difficult to keep up the psychological strength. But I felt a big strength after I won the quarter finals," she said.

Nilmini Jayasinghe said she hoped her achievement would help promote women's boxing in Sri Lanka.

"There are only 30-40 women boxers in Sri Lanka. So I hope this would be a new beginning. Currently women's boxing is part of the Olympics so I hope my victory will help to promote our game in Sri Lanka," she said.

She also expressed her gratitude to Dian Gomes, the former chairman of Sri Lanka's Boxing Association, for helping on her way to win the medal.