Sri Lanka’s top judo player, Rajitha Nuwarapaksha, is on a mission to climb higher in the world rankings. Currently based in Italy, Nuwarapaksha is ready for the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2024 in Georgia from March 22 to 24 with hopes of making his mark among the best 100 players globally.
Nuwarapaksha, aged 31, achieved Sri Lanka’s highest judo world ranking of 127 last year. Now, he’ is determined to break into the top 100 after competing in consecutive tournaments. supported by his manager, Gamini Ranasinghe, former Secretary of the Sri Lanka Judo Association,
Nuwarapaksha is set to compete with 549 players from 83 nations, including 305 men and 244 women, representing all five continents. Following the Tbilisi event, Nuwarapaksha will head to the Antalya Grand Slam 2024 in Turkey, scheduled from March 29 to 31. This tournament will
see the participation of 587 athletes from 94 nations. With Ranasinghe’s guidance, Nuwarapaksha aims to improve upon his current ranking and secure a spot in the top 100, a crucial step towards qualifying for the upcoming World Championship in Abu Dhabi from May 19-23.
Sajeewa Jayakody
