Anusha Koddithuwakku Dirukshi (born 27 December 1978), also known as Anusha Koddithuwakku, is a Sri Lankan boxer who generally competes in

light flyweight Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a weight class in boxing. Professional boxing The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York legalized boxing in 1920 ...

event. She has competed in several international competitions including the

AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships The IBA World Boxing Championships, and the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships (previously known as AIBA), are biennial amateur boxing competitions organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is the sport governing body. ...

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

and

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...

. Anusha Koddithuwakku rose to prominence at the international boxing arena after securing a silver medal in the women's 48kg fly lightweight event during the

2016 South Asian Games The 2016 South Asian Games, officially the XII South Asian Games, is a major multi-sport event which took place from 5 February to 16 February 2016 in Guwahati and Shillong, India. A total of 2,672 athletes competed in 226 events over 22 sports ...

losing to veteran Indian boxing world champion Mery Kom. In the final of the women's lightweight event at the 2016 South Asian Games, she sustained leg injuries and also her leg was broken by Mery Kom. Anusha also selected to represent

Sri Lanka at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Sri Lanka competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia from April 4 to April 15, 2018. The Sri Lankan team consists of 139 members, including 80 athletes competing in 13 sports (15 disciplines). However, Sumesh Wickramas ...

which was also her maiden Commonwealth Games appearance at the age of 39 and competed in the boxing events. She started the tournament well with reaching the semi-final round and was scheduled to face her arch-rival Mery Kom who is 35 years old in the semifinal again after the 2016 South Asian Games final. With reaching the semi-final stage, Anusha became the first Sri Lankan female boxer ever to qualify for the semi-final round in a boxing event at the Commonwealth Games. During the semi-final clash on April 11, Mery Kom managed to beat Anusha Koddithuwakku comfortably 5–0 to secure a final round berth. After losing the semifinal, Anusha was awarded the bronze medal which was also Sri Lanka's 4th medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This was also the first ever medal received by a Sri Lankan in boxing at the history of Commonwealth Games after 68 years since

Albert Perera Albert Perera (died 1965) was a Sri Lankan boxer who mainly competed in the bantamweight category. Career He represented Ceylon at the 1948 Summer Olympics, the year Ceylon got independence from the British Empire. It was also the first Olympi ...

's gold medal achievement at the

1950 Commonwealth Games The 1950 British Empire Games was the fourth staging of what is now called the Commonwealth Games. It was held in Auckland, New Zealand between 4 and 11 February 1950, after a 12-year gap from the third edition of the games. The main venue was ...

. She too became the first Sri Lankan woman boxer to clinch a Commonwealth Games medal in boxing.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koddithuwakku, Anusha 1978 births Living people Sri Lankan women boxers Light-flyweight boxers Boxers at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Sri Lanka Commonwealth Games medallists in boxing Boxers at the 2018 Asian Games South Asian Games silver medalists for Sri Lanka Asian Games competitors for Sri Lanka South Asian Games medalists in boxing Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games People from North Western Province, Sri Lanka