M.Y. Joharan
M.Y. Joharan, a proud old boy of Anderson College, Colombo 02, began his remarkable boxing journey in 1959 at his school's inter-house boxing meet. Guided by his class teacher Mr. M. Kandiah who later became Lt. Col. M. Kandiah, the first Battalion Sinha Regiment Army Coach and trained by M.R. Raffaideen, a noted Stubbs Shield boxer, Joharan quickly displayed promise as a disciplined and fearless young pugilist.
In 1962, Joharan joined the St. Michael's Boxing Club, Polwatte, under the guidance of Principal Mr. S.K. Gunawardena and Coach Anton John That same year, he competed in the A.B.A. Novices Meet, narrowly losing to G. Van Culenberg, but made a strong comeback by winning the Intermediate Boxing Meet. At the National Championships, he fought valiantly against H.K. Karunaratne (Army). From 1963 onward, Joharan's name became synonymous with excellence. He triumphed in several prestigious tournaments, including the Layton Cup, Clifford Cup, Indo-Ceylon Special Contest, and the Olympic Trials, securing National Championships in both 1963 and 1964.
In 1965, Joharan enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army, joining the 1st Battalion, Sinha Regiment, once again under the mentorship of Lt. Col. M. Kandiah. His Army career was as illustrious as his sporting journey winning the National Championship in the under 100 lbs category in 1965, and later the Light Flyweight (106 lbs) title in 1969. His dominance was unmatched as he captured the Best Boxer Award at the Layton Cup, Clifford Cup, Defence Services, and National Championships. Joharan proudly represented Sri Lanka at the 4th Asian Boxing Championships held in Manila, Philippines in 1970, under the guidance of Coach D.C.A. Wickremasinghe and Manager Lt. Col. M. Kandiah. He was part of a talented national team alongside Hans Van Culenberg, M. Wijetunge, H.M. Marzook, D.C. Weerasinghe, and M. Weerakkody. In 1976, Joharan once again showcased his skill and resilience by winning the Best Boxer Award at the Army Championships, marking the final chapter of his competitive boxing career.
After retiring from active competition, Joharan continued to serve the sport from 1976 to 1990 as a Coach, Referee, and Judge. He coached emerging boxers at St. Michael's College, the Junior Boxing Pool, the Sinha Regiment, and the National Pool. He also served as a Timekeeper at the 3rd Asian Boxing Championships in Colombo and officiated at numerous A.Β.Α., Schools, Army, and Defence Services boxing meets during the leadership of Mr. Eddie Gray and DIG Dharmasiri Weerakoon, who were then Presidents of the Referees and Judges Association of the Α.Β.Α.
In 2018, under the patronage of General Jagath Jayasuriya, Joharan was awarded a Certificate of Honour in recognition of his outstanding sportsmanship and lifelong contribution to Sri Lankan boxing from 1960 to 1990. A retired Warrant Officer II (Sri Lanka Army) and recipient of the Desha Keerthi Presidential Award (2007), M.Y. Joharan's life reflects unwavering dedication, discipline, and love for the sport. His six-decade journey stands as an inspiration to every young boxer who dreams of wearing the Sri Lankan colours in the ring.