Colombo, Jan 22, 8.45PM – In an amazing show of skill at the recent National Judo Championship in Sugathadasa Stadium, Chamara Nuwan Dharmawardena, from the Sri Lanka Air Force, achieved a historic seventh national championship title. This victory not only makes a new record in Sri Lanka’s judo history but also proves Dharmawardena is a legendary judoka.
Competing in nine different weight classes, Dharmawardena effortlessly won in all categories. “I won every weight class with ease,” he happily said after his big win, showing how proud he was of his amazing accomplishment.
Dharmawardena’s incredible performance earned him three gold medals in the 73kg weight category, the Open category for selecting the Best Player, and the team event. His outstanding skills also got him the title of Best Player in the Open Weight Class.
A trailblazer in Sri Lanka’s judo scene, Dharmawardena made history as the first judo player from the country to win a medal at the South Asian Games, getting a gold medal in the 2019 Nepal edition. Also, he became the pioneer judoka to represent Sri Lanka in the Olympics, taking part in the 2016 Rio Olympics and finishing an impressive ninth in the world.
Known for his focus on the mat rather than words, Dharmawardena emphasized, “I am a player who shows my performance on the playing mat, not talking.”
Keeping his dominance in the sport for the past nine years in the same weight class, Dharmawardena, now 30, expressed his unwavering commitment to judo. “I am fully committed to my sport, doing my workout daily. This will be my last Olympic,” he revealed. With two Olympics under his belt (2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo), Dharmawardena looks forward to future challenges.
Reflecting on his Olympic journey, Dharmawardena secured the ninth place in the 2016 Rio Games and finished 17th in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. While hoping to win medals at the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, he announced that he will not aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as he wishes to give others a chance to shine.
Joining the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2010 after completing his education at Gampola Jinaraja Maha Vidyalaya, Dharmawardena expressed gratitude for the Air Force’s contribution to his career development. His judo journey began in Grade 8 at Wewathenna Maha Vidyalaya in Gampola, marking the start of a remarkable sporting career that continues to inspire judo enthusiasts in Sri Lanka.
