She never realized there was a passion called sports and the irony is that she found her feet to hit the deck after being told she’s too heavy for her age:
At just 20 years of age, Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando Poruthotage has become a symbol of hope and pride for Sri Lanka, particularly in the realm of wrestling. Born on June 17, 2004, in the village of Welpalla, she is the first Sri Lankan to secure international medals in the sport of wrestling. From a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to historic victories on the world stage, Nethmi’s journey is one of passion, perseverance and breaking boundaries.
Growing up in Makanduru, Pannala, a small village in Kurunegala, Nethmi was far from being interested in sports during her early years. “I didn’t know about sports,” she admits, recalling her disinterest during her school days. By the time she was 14, her weight had risen to 67kg. Motivated to lose weight, she joined a local wrestling team at the age of 15. “That’s when things started to change,” Nethmi recalled and what began as a simple fitness regimen evolved into a deep passion for wrestling.
Nethmi with her medal
Under the guidance of her coach, TS Suranga Kumar, who started teaching wrestling in their village while recovering from an accident, Nethmi discovered her natural talent. “My best friend, Chamodya, invited me to join the classes,” said Nethmi.
Despite initial reluctance, particularly from her mother, a teacher who felt wrestling wasn’t a sport for girls, Nethmi’s father encouraged her to pursue it. “Once he gave permission, my mother agreed,” she remembers. In just one year, Nethmi had risen to become Sri Lanka’s best wrestler in the 57kg weight class, taking the national title in 2019.
After that, Nethmi became a force to be reckoned with in the national wrestling scene. “I have never lost to anyone in Sri Lanka,” she states with pride. Her matches rarely lasted the full six minutes – two rounds of three minutes each – as she often won within three minutes. With weight classes ranging from 50kg to 76kg in Sri Lanka, Nethmi dominated her 57kg division, defeating all challengers with ease.
Nethmi’s first experience on the global stage came in 2021 at the Under-20 World Championship in Russia. Though she lost to an Italian opponent and a Kyrgyzstani wrestler, finishing eighth in the world, the experience only fuelled her desire to excel internationally. “Initially my goal was to become a champion in Sri Lanka and then to win medals for Sri Lanka,” she says.
The following year, in 2022, Nethmi achieved just that at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. “The Commonwealth Games was my second international competition,” she explains. Despite losing to an Indian wrestler in the semifinals, Nethmi won the bronze medal match against an Australian opponent, marking a historic moment for Sri Lankan wrestling. “I was only 18 at the time, and there were maany experienced wrestlers,” she recalls, underscoring the magnitude of her achievement.
Nethmi’s rise continued in 2024 when, just one month before the U-20 World Championships, she competed at the Asian U-20 Championship in Thailand. “Last month, I won a bronze medal at the Asian U-20 Championship in Thailand,” she says proudly. It was a prelude to her next major victory and gave her a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the world event.
Nethmi understood that Asia is home to some of the world’s top wrestlers, particularly in freestyle wrestling. “In martial arts, among the top three in the world are from Asia – Japan is number one, followed by China, Mongolia, and India,” she explains. Competing against athletes from these countries helped her prepare for the intensity of the World Championships and the bronze medal in Thailand was proof that she could compete against the best.
Fresh off her success in Thailand, Nethmi entered the U-20 World Wrestling Championship in Pontevedra, Spain, with renewed confidence. The competition was fierce, but she was ready. “On the first day of the world championships, I had four fights,” she recalls. In her first match, she dominated Kazakhstan’s Yengilik Kabylbek, winning 10-0. She continued her impressive run, defeating Bulgaria’s Nikol Krasimirova by the same scoreline, 10-0, in the pre-quarterfinals.
Nethmi’s quarter-final match against Hungary’s Liliana Kapuvari was another standout performance as she triumphed with a 14-3 victory. Her semifinal bout, however, was one of the toughest, as she narrowly lost to China’s Jin Zhang in a hard-fought 2-2 match. Despite the setback, Nethmi knew her journey wasn’t over.
In the bronze medal match, she faced Valeryia Mikitsich, a neutral athlete from Belarus. “I won the bronze medal match 6-2, which made me the first Sri Lankan wrestler to win a medal at a World Championship,” she says with pride. This historic victory, coupled with her earlier success in Thailand, has solidified Nethmi’s status as one of the brightest young talents in international wrestling.
Nethmi’s success has not come easily. Her training regimen is gruelling, often grappling with men from the national pool, as she feels that wrestling with male athletes challenges her more. “I don’t train with other girls because I find I improve more when I wrestle with men,” she explains. Before major competitions like the Commonwealth Games, she even travelled abroad to train in Hungary. Despite the losses she faced in ten international tournaments following the Games, she remains undeterred. “I faced Olympic-level athletes,” she says, knowing that every match brings her closer to her goals.
Her food intake and discipline are also key to her success. “I maintain a strict diet,” she says, explaining that her daily routine consists of cereals and protein in the morning, a small portion of rice with fish or chicken for lunch, and soup with fish or eggs for dinner. Training takes place twice a day, except on Wednesdays when she trains only in the morning getting into competition mode.
Her path to success has also been littered with obstacles, including injuries. “One month before my last tournament I injured my left shoulder,” she recalled. But even with her shoulder taped up Nethmi competed and continued to push through the pain. Injuries, she knows, are part of the journey and she refuses to let them hold her back.
Looking ahead, Nethmi’s sights are firmly set on the 2028 Olympics. “My main target is to qualify for the 2028 Olympics and win a medal. Within a short span of six years having achieved these medals, I am confident in the next four years I can get more medals,” she says, with her focus on refining her technical skills. While she has demonstrated physical strength, Nethmi admits that her losses in international competitions often come down to technique. “That’s why I need more international exposure,” she explains. There is also the possibility of training in the USA, where she believes she can gain even more valuable experience.
“I want to develop my technical skills to fight in international competitions. Even if I train with men here, although I can match them physically I get beaten technically when I go for international competitions. That is why I need international exposure in training and competitions. If I go to Europe I can compete in clubs and gain experience,” she explains.
Her coach, Suranga Kumar, remains a cornerstone of her success. “Some people have tried to separate me from my coach, but I won’t go anywhere without him,” Nethmi asserts. She believes that her coach knows her strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else, and together, they are preparing for the challenges ahead.
Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando’s journey from a teenager with no interest in sports to Sri Lanka’s foremost wrestling heroine is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. With her remarkable achievements at such a young age, she has already made history for her country. As she looks towards the future, with dreams of Olympic glory and continued success on the world stage, Nethmi is an inspiration not only to aspiring athletes in Sri Lanka but to anyone with a dream.
“I know it’s going to be difficult,” she acknowledges, but with her relentless determination and the support of her coach and country, Nethmi is confident she can continue to bring pride and honour to Sri Lanka. Her journey is far from over, and the world is eagerly watching as she takes her next steps towards greatness.
Nethmi brings down her opponent
