Navy clinches men's title and women's runner-up slot at 13th Defence Services Wrestling Championship

The Sri Lanka Navy emerged victorious in the men's category and secured the runner-up position in the women's category at the 13th Defence Services Wrestling Championship. The event, organized under the patronage of the Sri Lanka Navy, was held from 20th to 22nd November 2024 at the Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex in Welisara, showcasing exceptional skills and determination of the Navy's wrestlers.

Athletes from the tri-services showcased their skills in the highly competitive tournament. The Navy men’s wrestling team delivered an exceptional performance, competing across 10 weight categories and claiming 5 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal, earning them the men’s championship title. In the women’s division, the Navy team demonstrated commendable effort, securing 2 gold medals and 4 silver medals across 10 weight categories, finishing as runners-up in the tournament.

In this tournament, gold medals were clinched for the Navy by Petty Officer EMG Kathuranga (57 kg weight class), Leading Seaman SD Asanga (61 kg weight class), Leading Seaman CD Fernando (65 kg weight class), Able Seaman PSU Fernando (74 kg weight class), and Leading Seaman BP Ratnayake (86 kg weight class), showcasing their exceptional performances. Also, Leading Seaman HS Buddhika (70 kg weight class) and Able Seaman SSN Wimalasena (97 kg weight class) won silver medals and Able Seaman BA Sanjith (92 kg weight class) won a bronze medal for the Navy.

In the women's category, Woman Ordinary Seaman WSU Silva claimed gold in the 62 kg weight class, while Woman Leading Seaman KVSD Kumarasinghe secured gold in the 68 kg weight class. Additionally, silver medals were won by Woman Leading Seaman SMD Malkanthi in the 55 kg weight class, Woman Leading Seaman JMD Priyadarshani in the 57 kg weight class, Woman Able PTI WDS Nimeshika in the 65 kg weight class, and Woman Able PTI WGDO Karunanayake in the 72 kg weight class.

Commander Western Naval Area and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Chinthaka Kumarasinghe, Director Sports, Commodore Malan Perera, Deputy Area Commander and Officer in Charge of Welisara Naval Complex, Commodore Buddhika Jayaweera, Commodore superintend Logistics Department (West), Commodore (S) Kumara Munasinghe, senior and junior officers from the sister services were present on this occasion.