Next stop the world: Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage wins Asian Games javelin gold

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won javelin gold at the Asian Games on Monday to add to his growing collection and then set his sights on world and Olympic domination.

The 23-year-old rising star has taken the javelin world by storm this year, winning at the Commonwealth Games, Diamond League and Ultimate Championship.

He returned home from the last of those victories in Budapest earlier this month to find that his five javelins had snapped in transit.

He put it behind him at the Asian Games in Nagoya, launching a best throw of 88.55m to claim yet another gold.
"It's not a problem," he said after the competition. "I can throw any javelin."

Rumesh Pathirage reacts during the men's javelin throw final in the 2026 Asian Games at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. AFP

India's Yashvir Singh was second with a throw of 85.72m, followed by his countryman Rohit Yadav on 84.35m.

Pakistan's reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who holds the Asian record of 92.97m, was fourth with a throw of 80.29m.

Indian star Neeraj Chopra was injured and unable to defend his Asian Games gold.

Pathirage started slowly and saved his best throw for last in a competition that took place in torrential rain.
"I couldn't get a massive throw," he said. "The grip was not good." Pathirage's winning throw was the third best in the world this year.

Rumesh Pathirage celebrates after winning the men's javelin throw final. AP

He hurled a world-leading 92.62m in the Rome Diamond League meet on June 4 and in Zurich last month his 92.07 saw him become only the fourth man in history to exceed 92m twice.

"This year was a very good season," he said. "My first target was to become Diamond League champion, my second target was Ultimate champion, third Commonwealth Games champion and last Asian Games champion. "I did it in all competitions."

Pathirage, who says his teenage career as a cricket fast-bowler helped develop his javelin technique, is likely to be a strong contender at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"My next target is the world championships (in 2027) in China," he said. "And then after that the target is the Olympics."

Agence France-Presse