* Selected as Number 2 Best Boxing Referee & Judge in the world
Despite the Sri Lankan contingent’s overall disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Nelka Shiromala Thampu, who was selected to officiate for a record second time as a female boxing referee and judge, brought immense pride to the nation when she was honored as the World’s No. 2 Best Boxing Referee and Judge (overall) covering both male and female categories at the conclusion of the Olympic boxing events.
This is a remarkable achievement, as no other official from Sri Lanka, whether male or female, has attained such an honor at the Olympic Games to date.
Introduction
Nelka Shiromala Thampu, born on January 22, 1976, is a distinguished Sri Lankan police officer, boxing referee, and former national boxer. Known as Nelka Shiromala Thampu, she has earned acclaim as the first Sri Lankan female boxing referee and has carved a remarkable path in both the national and international boxing arenas. Her contributions to the sport have earned her the nickname “queen of the ring” and solidified her status as a pioneering figure in women’s boxing in Sri Lanka.
Early Life and Education
Nelka was born as the eldest child in her family, which includes three younger sisters. Her father, Thambu Sampath, a Tamil, was a boxer and boxing coach for the Sri Lanka Navy, while her mother is Sinhalese. She pursued her primary and secondary education at Rippon Girls’ College in Galle. Nelka’s early exposure to boxing came from her father, who also served as her first coach.
Career Beginnings
Nelka joined the Sri Lanka Police in 1997 as a trainee sub-inspector. Her initial posting was in Vavuniya, Northern Province, during the intense period of the Sri Lankan civil war. In addition to her police duties, she excelled in shooting and was recognized as the best police shooter in the pistol firing category in 1997 and 1998.
Encouraged by her father, Nelka pursued boxing professionally in 2001. She quickly established herself as a formidable competitor, representing the Sri Lanka Police boxing team from 2002 to 2006. Nelka made history as the first Sri Lankan female police boxer and competed in international boxing events. She also earned the Best Loser’s award at the Boxing National Championships for five consecutive years.
International Boxing Referee
In 2009, Nelka transitioned to officiating as a boxing referee. By 2011, she achieved Level I referee status and made her international debut at the 2011 Indonesian President’s Cup, becoming the first Sri Lankan female boxing referee to officiate internationally. She also participated in an Olympic test event and was promoted to Level II referee during the London Olympic Trials.
Her career reached new heights in 2013 when she became the first female 3-star referee in South Asia and the Southeast Asian region. Nelka officiated at the 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in South Korea and was the sole female referee at the 2015 Asian Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships final in Thailand. She also qualified as a World Series Boxing referee.
Recognition and Achievements
Nelka’s exceptional skills and contributions earned her the Best Referee Award from the Asian Boxing Confederation in 2017, making her the first woman to receive this honor. She was also selected to officiate at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships. At the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, she became the first Sri Lankan boxing referee to officiate at the Commonwealth Games. She was also a recipient of a Presidential Award for the contribution she has made as a woman in Sri Lanka.
Olympic Milestones
Nelka made history once again by officiating at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she became the first Sri Lankan female boxing referee to officiate at the Olympics. She officiated in both the men’s light heavyweight final and the women’s lightweight final, becoming the first Sri Lankan boxing referee to handle two Olympic boxing event finals. Her participation marked only the second time a Sri Lankan boxing referee officiated at the Olympics, following Dharmasiri Weerakoon.
Current Role
Today, Nelka Shiromala Thampu serves as a Chief Inspector at the Tourist Police of Sri Lanka, where she continues to inspire both within and beyond the boxing community.
Her remarkable journey from national boxer to international referee underscores her dedication to the sport and her role as a trailblazer for women in boxing.
Sri Lanka as a nation is truly proud of her achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
