Rumesh Pathirage’s 90-plus meter javelin broke in flight just before the Asian Games

Star javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage’s three prized javelins were damaged in transit, just days before the Asian Games. The Sri Lankan, who has completed three separate throws over 90m this season, revealed that all the javelins used for those national records were damaged in Turkish Airlines transport.

The Commonwealth Games and Diamond League winner was returning to Sri Lanka from Hungary after winning the World Athletics Ultimate Championships when his javelins were damaged in transit. Rumesh revealed the incident on Instagram and posted photos of the broken device. The javelin was found damaged after it landed in Sri Lanka, leading to a complaint with the airline.

“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 deal. I’m moving on,” the Sri Lankan javelin star said. Photo: Instagram

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Rumesh, who has been one of the standout athletes in the world javelin this season. The 23-year-old has won the Commonwealth Games, the Diamond League Finals and the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championships.

He has also thrown over 90 meters three times this season, with all three throws coming with javelins that were damaged on the journey back to Sri Lanka.

WHY ARE SPEARS IMPORTANT?

Javelins used by elite athletes are highly specialized pieces of equipment, with throwers often favoring certain models and setups. Damage to competition javelins can therefore disrupt both training and preparations for a major event.

Rumesh’s javelins are made by Javel Inn Ltd., the Hungarian company behind Nemeth Javelins. The company was founded in 1987 by Miklos Németh, who won Olympic gold in the javelin at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Nemeth was also the son of Imre Nemeth, the 1948 Olympic champion in the hammer throw.

Nemeth Javelins became known for their innovative rugged surface design and produced both aluminum and aluminum carbon composite javelins. The company says 15 different types of its javelin have received certification from the International Association of Athletics Federations, now known as World Athletics.

The brand’s equipment has also been used for world and European records, underscoring the level of precision in elite javelin production.

Nemeth’s specialized competition javelins can cost more than 100,000 rupees each, so the loss of three of Rumesh’s primary competition weapons is a significant setback, although the athlete himself downplayed the incident.

“It’s not a big deal. I’m moving on,” said Rumesh. Photo: Instagram

He will now have to replace the damaged gear as he prepares for the Asian Games, where he enters the men’s javelin competition among the frontrunners after a season in which he established himself among the world’s best.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

15 Sep 2026 12:05 PM IST