Sri Lankan wrestler Nethmi Ahinsa Poruthotage won a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg weight category at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Vung Tau, Vietnam — marking the first time in history that a Sri Lankan wrestler has medaled at this event.
Nethmi delivered a superb performance to outclass Kazakhstan’s Nilufar Raimova with a decisive 12–4 victory in the bronze medal match.
Coming from an underprivileged background in the Kurunegala District, Nethmi has continued to impress the Sri Lankan sporting community with her outstanding performances on the international stage. She first stole the spotlight by winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games — Sri Lanka’s first-ever medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games — and also became the youngest-ever Sri Lankan medalist at the event.
In September 2024, Nethmi secured another bronze medal at the U20 World Wrestling Championships held in Pontevedra, Spain. With this feat, she made history once again by becoming the first Sri Lankan wrestler to win a medal at any World Championship. Additionally, she clinched another historic bronze in the 53kg weight category at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, earlier in 2024 — the first for Sri Lanka at the U20 level.
Earlier this year, Nethmi traveled to the United States with her long-time coach and trainer, Suranga Pushpakumara, for a high-performance training program. The tour was fully funded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Nethmi has undoubtedly proven the value of that investment with her continued success.
Meanwhile, regional powerhouse India made headlines by securing both the men’s and women’s team titles at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships, marking a historic finish for the neighboring nation.
