Weightlifting a somewhat forgotten sport is to be given the best of support in Kandy in the future. Today weightlifting is catching up fast in schools. Even girls are interested in taking to this sport and be recognized. The Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and Prisons) have taken up the iron sport in a big way.
From the first bronze medal at the Pakistan International game in 1982 up to the present weightlifters have brought in many silver medals. Our weightlifters have taken part from 1982 Asian Games and in 1984 Olympic Games in addition to several International championships. In 1986 one of our lifters at the Commonwealth Championships in Malta won a bronze medal.
In the early days this sport was dominated in Kandy and produced several weight lifters who brought honor to their clubs, themselves and the country. So, it is good news to all iron sportsmen as Kandy YMCA is all out to give their best support to every school and lend a helping hand for sportsmen to do weights training, which is much needed.
Kandy was the hub for the iron sport at one tiem and this was made possible due to the immense support and helping hand extended by Kandy YMCA.
Weight lifting was introduced to Sri Lanka as a sport in 1939 by an Englishman, who was a serviceman, named G.J. P. Hill at a trial contest at the Fort YMCA. This was followed by Kandy YMCA, but soon went bankrupt in 1954.
Nine years later, in 1963, an organized and focused association was formed by the name Sri Lanka Amateur Weight Lifting and Body Building Association. This association, like in 1939, conducted a trial meet for amateurs in 1963 which was continued until 1974.
The same year, the bodybuilding section of the association broke away and formed the Sri Lanka Amateur Body Building Association, which has since 1977 been called the Sri Lanka Weight Lifting Federation.
In the good old days, promoters such as S.A. Wijewickrema Snr and Jnr, A Dharmadasa, Maurice Windus, with a few others did their best to promote the sport. When the sport was declining and on the verge of heading towards a natural death, the above mentioned people came forward and brought the sport to its original status with great commitment and dedication. There is another person one cannot forget - T.S.J. Packeer Ally the doyen of the iron sport.
When the iron sport was revived after 40 odd years, the first team to tour overseas (Peking) comprised G.V.A. Croos (Bantam), S.A. Wijewickrema Jnr. (Feather), Mahesh Sabaratnam (Light), Niyaz Majeed (Middle) and W.S.K. Perera (Light). The team was managed by J. Ranasinghe, T.S.J. Pakeer Ally (Coach) who was a FIFA qualified football coach and Linne Schoorman who went as referee.
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