Twenty-three-year-old Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has made history by winning Sri Lanka’s first-ever athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Pathirage won the men's javelin competition in Glasgow with an impressive throw of 89.75 metres. The young athlete faced a tough field of competitors, including Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and India's Neeraj Chopra, who have dominated the sport for years.
The competition had several unexpected turns on a windy evening at Scotstoun Stadium. Nadeem, who won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, surprisingly exited early after failing to reach the final rounds in his first three throws. Pathirage also struggled initially, recording only one valid throw in his first five attempts. However, that single throw of 89.75 metres was enough to secure the victory.
Neeraj Chopra overcame an injury-filled year to win the silver medal with a season-best throw of 85.83 metres. India's Yash Vir Singh earned the bronze medal with a personal best of 85.41 metres. Meanwhile, former world champion Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago finished sixth with a throw of 82.55 metres.
Before focusing on javelin, Pathirage was a talented cricket player. As a teenager, he played as a fast bowler and was measured bowling at speeds of 134 kilometres per hour (83 miles per hour). His transition from cricket to athletics has now brought historic success to Sri Lanka.