All three Sri Lankan wrestlers, who represented the Island at the Commonwealth Games competed today(12th) and managed to secure two wins in the matches they took part in.
Deepika Dilhani, the only Sri Lankan female wrestler at the Gold Coast Games, was the first Sri Lankan wrestler to compete on the day. Competing in the Women’s freestyle 53kg Nordic system match, she got off to a fabulous start when she managed to defeat Australian Carissa Holland, earning victory by points in her first game. That however would turn out to be the only victory she would have in the competition as she lost the three remaining matches. Against Indian Babitta Kumari, Dilhani lost by fall, surrendering in the opening round itself. She met Diana Weicker in the next encounter and again only lasted one round as Diana won by technical superiority where she didn’t allow Dilhani to score any points. In her final game Dilhani met Nigerian Bose Samuel and she again couldn’t last more than the first round losing by fall.
National Champion and experienced campaigner Divoshan Charles, competing in the Men’s
Free Style 57Kg category won the pre-quarter final against Ross Connelly from Scotland after two rounds. Divoshan won the game by Points. Next up he took on Pakistani Muhammad Bilal in the semi-final but was outmuscled by the Pakistani who secured victory through technical superiority.
Suresh Fernanado who represented Sri Lanka in the 74Kg Men’s Freestyle event had his journey at the Commonwealth cut short losing the quarter-final of the event to Welshman Curtis Dodge by fall in the first round of the event.
