This is only the first chapter in Nethmi’s story – NOC
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC), who initiated pathways for young sportspersons with true potential and had the knack to win medals at the international stage, through programmes and long term projects partnering with the corporate sector, releasing am official media communique, stated that it is proud and honoured to have played a part in wrestler Nethmi Ahinsa’s feat at the concluded Commonwealth Games 2022.
“This is only the first chapter of Nethmi’s story. In front of her, there is a whole book to be read page by page at least till the next Olympics in 2024. We were also fortunate to get Nethmi into the NOCSL-Crysbro Next Champ Programme at a time when the entire country was at a standstill. That helped her to continue with her training programme unhindered,” Maxwell de Silva, the Secretary General of NOC said. De Silva further said that the timely refresher development stint given to the national wrestling team by the UWW team in Hungary, directly prior to departure to the Commonwealth Games 2022, helped 18-year-old Nethmi win her bronze medal in Birmingham, breaking new grounds in the grappling sport.
He was highly appreciative of the help provided by Deqa Niamkey, the Development Director International Federation of UWW was a source of inspiration to the Sri Lankan wrestling team.
“Our wrestlers undoubtedly had the talent, but what lacked in them was finesse. Initially, we gave the male wrestlers a training session in Mongolia, and just before crossing over to Birmingham, both the male and female teams were given the finishing touches in Hungary. I am glad that Nethmi took the opportunity with both hands and developed the skills that were needed to take on her opponents from India and Australia. The high point of the whole episode came in Nethmi’s bronze medal winning bout. During that bout, the commentators, who hardly gave Nethmi any hope, were praising the wrestler’s technical skills and how she overpowered her much more experienced opponent from Australia,” de Silva explained. (NOCSL)