Asian Games golden hope Pathirage loses three key spears

Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka prepares to attempt the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) BENGALURU: Men’s javelin world number one Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage hit an air pocket on Tuesday in his hunt for gold at the Asian Games. His famous javelins of 92.62m on June 4 at the Rome Diamond League, 92.07m on August 27 at the Zurich Diamond League and 91.09m on Sunday at the WA Ultimate Championship in Budapest were all found damaged when he returned to Colombo as the new javelin king.“All the three javelins I used for over 90 throws were damaged. It could have been the airline’s fault, but that’s the way it is. It’s not a big problem. I’m moving on,” the Sri Lankan star told reporters at the Colombo airport after traveling on a Turkish Airlines flight. The 23-year-old is having an outstanding season this year, becoming the first Ultimate Champion, winning the Diamond League Finals and climbing to the top of the world rankings.After opening his season with a performance of 89.37m on the outskirts of Colombo, the Sri Lankan earned victory in the Rome Diamond League with a monstrous performance of 92.62m. That came dangerously close to the 92.97m thrown by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem to win gold at the Paris Olympics while setting a new Olympic and Asian record.Acknowledging the potential of its newest star, Sri Lanka’s sports minister said the Sri Lankan government would provide Tharanza with a new set of spears, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports quoted News Wire, a news portal from the island nation, as saying. “Our government will continue to stand behind our athletic star and her Olympic dream,” the minister said. “The government is also considering seeking compensation from the airline for damages, while considering possible legal and diplomatic measures,” the ministry said.Pathirage, who won bronze with a best of 84.34m at the Neeraj Chopra Classic at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in July last year, has improved by leaps and bounds this year. He won the Diamond League final, defeating the likes of London 2012 Olympic and 2025 world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.He won five Diamond League matches and one of his rare defeats came in May when he finished second to Grenada’s Anderson Peters in Rabat. The Glasgow Commonwealth Games was expected to be a big battle between Pathirage, Olympic champion Nadeem and Indian superstars Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh for the gold. The battle between Chopra, Nadee and Pathirage was expected to resume at the Asiad at Nagoya’s Paloha Mizuho Stadium. But with Chopra forced to end the season due to injury and Arshad also not in great form, the Sri Lankan will start as overwhelming favourite.