SRI LANKA'S QUEEN OF THE RING BOWS OUT

Nelka Shiromala ends trailblazing career with pride

- By ALLAAM OUSMAN

In a poignant farewell to the global boxing fraternity, Chief Inspector Nelka Shiromala Thampu Sri Lanka's first and most decorated female boxing referee has officially retired, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned over two decades and rewrote the history of Sri Lankan sports officiating.

Revered as Sri Lanka's 'Queen of the Ring', Nelka leaves behind a glittering legacy, having officiated at two Olympic Games, countless world tournaments, and shattering gender barriers in what was once an exclusively male domain. Her departure marks the end of an era, evoking parallels with the legendary Dharmasiri Weerakoon, Sri Lanka's 'King of the Ring' and Olympic referee, whose pioneering footsteps she followed with distinction.

Born on 22 January 1976 in Galle to a Tamil father and Sinhalese mother, Nelka's journey was deeply influenced by her father Thambu Sampath, a Navy coach and national-level boxer. Inspired by his dream, she joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1997 and immediately began making waves first as a top pistol shooter, winning back-to-back 'Best Police Shooter' awards, and then as a boxer, becoming the first female to don gloves for the Police boxing team in 2001.

Between 2002 and 2006, Nelka was a dominant figure in domestic women's boxing, often finishing runner-up but earning the Best