By Dhammika Ratnaweera
A. G. D. P. Bandara and A. S. C. D. Seneviratna won a silver and bronze medals respectively at the International Open Grappling Championship held in New Delhi recently. Five Sri Lankan players and two officials participated this tournament while veteran player cum referee also won a bronze medal in the veteran category.
Bandara won his silver medal at 77kg category while Seneviratna won the bronze at 92 kg weight category in Sri Lanka’s honour participating in their maiden tour in this sport. W. Lakmal of Air Force, A. A. C. K Atampola of STF were the other two players from Sri Lanka to get the opportunity to participate this tournament while two officials Squadron Leader PS Jayathilake from Sri Lanka Air Force and Captain K.P.W.R.K. from Sri Lanka Army also took part in the event. The tournament was conducted by the Indian Grappling Association.
Bandara from Special Task Force (STF) and Sri Lanka Air Force’s Seneviratna were lucky winners of the first medals in this sport which is newly formed by Sri Lanka. Grappling is a new and emerging sport which is of a non-striking hybrid origin from traditional Kurash, traditional Wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo and other styles of uni-fight submission fighting.
This new martial art sport consists in forcing the opponent to surrender through the application of locks and choking techniques. Grappling is a close fighting technique used to gain a physical advantage such as improving relative position with arms and neckties. Two players under red and blue compete under different weight categories. The sport of Grappling was first introduced to Sri Lanka Lanka by Uditha Peiris, who won a bronze in this tournament.
Be the first to comment