Kandy have produced sportsmen and sportswomen both at local and international level, where they have enjoyed, value, and celebrated the benefits of active participation and excellence in sport.
Kandy has established a proud record of having produced some of the best sportsmen/sportswomen in the field of football, cricket, hockey, rugby, swimming, athletics, table tennis, iron sports, boxing, swimming, basketball, golf, cue sport, baseball, which is a new sport that has been introduced.
Rugby football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in Kandy with Kandy SC dominating. Trinity, Kingswood, St. Anthony’s, Dharmaraja, St. Sylvester’s, Sri Sumangala, Sri Rahula and Vidyartha are keen followers of the game and have done well in schools rugby.
Football has been tagged as the common man’s game, and at one time it was a power house of our country. But today, it is in a forgotten state.
The game is sadly neglected. For many years, tournaments and AGM’s have not been held on time in an organised manner.
This has been a great setback to the sport. At club level it is dead. The schools are playing the game as usual but overall Kandy football is dead and virtually buried.
Cricket at schools and club level continue to take pride of place and once again the club standards have improved.
Cricket promoters
This year, the Kandy DCA and Central PCA have brought in cricket promoters and they are doing their best.
Hockey at both schools and club level is quite healthy and successful especially Girls’ schools are dominating the game.
Billiards and snooker have taken a nosedive with hardly any activity. It was a sport which was once dominated by Kandy clubs. Only Mahanuwara YMBA keeps the sport going and other clubs who took part have forgotten to switch the table lights.
Basketball has got back to its former glory. The schools are giving a big boost to restart the game in a better fashion.
Then, table tennis is very popular in Kandy. There is some hope as there are many schools and clubs who are capable of doing well.
In swimming, Mahamaya Girls’ College, Trinity College, Hillwood College have done well.
In badminton, there is a lack of interest in this sport. Something must be done to uplift the game.
Boxing remains popular among the schools. One time king makers of the sport were Trinity and later, St. Sylvester’s followed by Peradeniya MMV and Sarasavi Uyana.
Of late, schools like Vidyartha, Kingswood and Dharmaraja have taken to the sport and are doing well.
Kandy YMCA
Wrestling was at its best at club level, especially Kandy YMCA promoted the sport. It is good to see Walala A. Ratnayake Central doing well. They won the Junior Nationals recently.
In bodybuilding, Kandy YMCA and Mahanuwara YMBA have helped several bodybuilders to do well and bring honour to the country.
Baseball is catching up fast and some of the schools are keen to promote it thanks to the efforts of the promoters.
Golf is also popular. Volleyball is over 100 years old in the country and over 80 years in Kandy. It is the National sport and at a certain time volleyball was a popular game.
But today, the much needed support is not there for the game.
In netball, schools in Kandy are doing well and have taken part in most of the tournaments organised by the governing body.
It was Kandy Girls’ High School who started the sport first followed by Hillwood College, Mahamaya, Pushpadana and St. Anthony’s Convent. Today, most of the schools are in the game but with poor backing from the governing body.
All schools in Kandy have athletics in their curriculum and are doing very well. Cycling has been popular in Kandy and there have been races on many occasions.
Chess is popular at schools for quite a long period and carrom is also a popular sport in Kandy, mostly played by the government departments.
Softball cricket is very popular and every Sunday and on public holidays tournaments for various trophies were played. It is one of the most interesting and well represented.
Motor racing at one time, when top motor sport promoters were involved, produced many events and also top riders and drivers. Today, the sport only exists on paper.
