Twins are a rarity in sport. Boxing twins are even more rare to find. Sri Lanka had the good fortune of seeing the Nethikumara brothers – Jagath and Sugath – of St. Mathew’s College, Dematagoda fame dazzling for school, club and country in the 80s golden era of boxing. The duo even fought against each other in the final of the Junior National Championships with the judges having a difficult time trying to pick a winner because not only were they alike but their style and technical skills were almost identical.
Almost four decades later, another set of twins - Senuka Dulran Weerasinghe and Senula Dulaj Weerasinghe – proud products of Mahanama College have shot to national and international prominence after having represented Sri Lanka at the first ever ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships held in Kuwait City.
Born on December 10, 2005, within four minutes of each other, the 13-year-old boxing twins have a bright future ahead of them and are determined bring glory to Sri Lanka, predicted their coach Anura Yapa in an interview with the Daily News.
“The two boxers have lot of potential. I want to give them much international exposure as possible. If they get the opportunity, they will do well for Sri Lanka,” he said confidently.
Senuka Dulran, the elder of the twins, featured in the historic opening bout of the ASBC Asian Schoolboys Boxing Championships against Philippines’ Joshua Sorillo in the 35-37kg weight class, losing by a split points decision. Sorilla was beaten by India’s Aryan in the last eight round.
Senula Dulaj also lost a split points decision 4-1 after tough duel against India’s Harsh, who lost in the quarter-finals to Turkmenistan’s Daniyar Rozmetov in the 33-35kg contest.
Vice president of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka Col (retd) Hemantha Weerasinghe who functioned as an ITO (International Technical Official) during the championship, said Sri Lanka’s schoolboy pugilists gave a creditable performance despite limited preparations. “The decisions against Philippines and India could have gone either way. It was that close,” he said.
Dulran and Dulaj got engaged in the tough sport of boxing barely two years ago abandoning the glamour sport of cricket.
“We were drawn to boxing inspired by the success of Mahanama in the sport. Our passion is boxing now,” said Dulaj speaking on behalf of the gentle, slightly built twins who don’t look menacing at all in their demeanour.
Indeed, Mahanama have enjoyed tremendous success in the school arena although the sport was introduced into their curriculum only in 2015.
“Ruwan Keragala, a top manager at MAS Holdings, started boxing at Mahanama with the support of the 93 batch old boys group of Mahanama. Within a short span we produced the Best Boxers at the L.V. Jayaweera meet for freshers - Mithun Fernando (2015) and Kasun Fernando (2016). We also emerged as the champion team at this meet,” said former Army coach Anura Yapa listing their achievements.
Dulran was adjudged Best Boxer at the L.V. Jayaweera meet in 2018 while Dulaj won the Best Boxer at the T.B. Jayah schoolboy novices boxing tournament this year.
“They are very dedicated to boxing. I have a lot of hope in their talent. To represent Sri Lanka from a small age is a great feat,” said Yapa, an employee of MAS Holdings, who lauded the support given for the sport by the school principal L.M.D. Dharmasena and other old boys of Mahanama.
“I am not afraid to send them for boxing. They used to play cricket earlier. They have good coaches. I hope they can bring medals for Sri Lanka,” said the father of the boxing twins Eranda Prabath Weerasinghe.
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