Who else but Rumesh Pathirage? Sri Lankan wins Ultimate Championship with another 90-plus throw

Who else but Rumesh Pathirage? The Sri Lankan javelin thrower capped off a remarkable 2026 season by winning the inaugural World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Sunday 13 September, producing another throw of over 90 meters to beat a field full of Olympic and world champions.

Pathirage didn’t have it his way from the start. After an opening throw of 75.89m, he was fifth in the eight-man field, ahead of Anderson Peters and Julian Weber. But Pathirage has made a habit of building into contests this season and Budapest was no different.

He improved to 85.69 on his second attempt and found 87.11m on his third attempt. This throw moved him into first place, but it was barely enough to make him comfortable. Peters was just 0.93m behind with 86.18m, while Weber was a further 29cm back with 85.89m. Rumesh Pathirage led the competition from the third throw. (Photo by Reuters)

With the Ultimate Championship using a four-round format instead of the traditional six tries, Pathirage had one roll left to tie the match.

He did exactly that. Men’s Javelin Series at the Ultimate Championship. (Screengrab: World Athletics)

RUMESH RECOGNIZES THE MONSTER THROW

The 23-year-old fighter cleared 91.09m with his fourth and final throw to extend his lead to almost five meters and there was no way back for Peters and Weber. Peters finished second with 86.18m, while Weber took bronze with 85.89m.

It was Pathirage’s third throw over 90m this season, following his world-leading 92.62m effort in Rome in June and 92.07m in Zurich in August. Rome’s toss remains the eighth best in history and a Sri Lankan national record.

EXTRAORDINARY YEAR 2026 RUMESH PATHIRAGE

More importantly, the victory in Budapest was the latest addition to an exceptional season for Pathirage. In 2026, he established himself as a dominant force in the men’s javelin, winning multiple Diamond League meets, the Diamond League Final and the Commonwealth Games before adding the Ultimate Championship title to his collection.

He now heads into the Asian Games as a clear favourite, having spent the season throwing further and more consistently than anyone else in the event. Rumesh Pathirage will be the favorite to win the Asian Games. (Photo by Reuters)

While Pathirage again produced a big number when it mattered, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem endured a tough night in Budapest. After a horror run at the Commonwealth Games, the Pakistani also failed to make it in the Ultimate Championship when he managed a personal best of 81.49m in his third throw. That was good enough for fifth place but also marked his best season.

However, there was only one way for Pathirage to end this season.

Another victory. Another 90-metre throw. And another reminder of why the question that comes up more and more in men’s javelin right now is: who can stop Rumesh Pathirage?

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

14 Sep 2026 09:02 IST