The first Sri Lankan to enter an Olympic ring and win a bout was Kandy school product Leslie Donovan Perera Handunge. He was one of the finest sportsmen Trinity College has produced. He became the Director of Physical Education at the Peradeniya University. When he was in charge of all the grounds at Peradeniya, they were in perfect condition, even international cricket matches were played before Sri Lanka got Test status. Leslie Handunge represented Ceylon at the 1948 Olympic Games and was the first Ceylonese to enter an Olympic ring and win an Olympic bout by beating Mexcican Tello in the men’s - flyweight, ranking ninth at the 1952 Olympic Games representing the Ceylon team.
He came to Trinity College from Matale, and was put on the correct path by the coaches. He excelled at Trinity College in four major events - cricket, boxing, rugby and athletics. After leaving school, he played inter-club hockey and football for Kandy Rovers and was rated as one of he top centre forwards in hockey.
In football he played as left-inside. Leslie played rugger for Kandy SportsClub and Up-Country. He was the master in every sport he played. Later Leslie became one of the best rugger referees and for years he officiated in the Trinity-Royal under 17game as referee, and when Kandy Lake Club was playing in the “B”division, he was the one and only referee to handle the games played in Kandy. When refereeing he was famous for his pep talks while handing the whistle. He also refereed football games and was an umpire at cricket and hockey.
When Leslie was handling the University playgrounds at Peradeniya as Director of Physical Education, the only place which had four sports fields together, the Tennis court, Hockey and Athletics, followed by Cricket grounds with a turf wicket, after he left, a matting was laid by the side of the turf,and the last was the football and rugger grounds, all in-a-row.Even the Bradby Shield Rugby game was played and there were foreign teams that played cricket matches.
Leslie was a Diploma Holder in Physical Education of Loughborough College, UK, and became the first Sri Lankan to obtain his Diploma and Masters Degree in Physical Education from Springfield, USA. He had to work his way through at both these institutions.
In Boxing,he won his first National title in 1944 in the Flyweight Class and also won the best boxer’s award at the Intermediate, Albert Perera Farewell Meet and National Championships.He represented the University of Ceylon at Boxing and Rugger, and was the British and Irish Universities’ Bantam Weight Champion while at Loughborough College. He was invited back by the ABA of Sri Lanka to participate in the final boxing trials for the 1950 - Empire Games, but was unable to leave UK. He retired as undefeated Flyweight boxing champion of Sri Lanka in 1952.
In the1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, Leslie was the most experienced and highest qualified sports administrator and physical educationist. He held office with Kandy Football, Hockey, Boxing, Cricket and Athletics Association and helped every sport with ground facilities.
It was he who helped schools to play cricket at Peradeniya, and also gave a big hand for hockey at school and club level. A gentleman with principals, a strict disciplinarian and a great promoter and helped sportsman during the times of difficulty by way of valuable advice, sports equipment and financial assistance when required. He is no more, but people who have moved with him and knows his qualities in the field of sports, will never forget him.
0 comments:
Post a Comment