Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage achieved a career-best javelin throw of 92.62m at the Wanda Diamond League event in Rome, breaking the meeting record. His remarkable performance marked the first time in 2026 that a man surpassed the 90m mark and made him the best Asian thrower in history.
Pathirage’s throw not only exceeded the previous record by more than two meters but also placed him eighth on the all-time world list. This achievement came after his initial throw of 84.49m, showcasing his dominance in the competition. The Sri Lankan’s victory over renowned javelin throwers like Anderson Peters and Curtis Thompson solidified his exceptional performance.
“I tried my best today to set a national record and I managed to improve it by three meters,” Pathirage expressed after his win. The athlete highlighted the favorable weather conditions in Rome that contributed to his success, likening the experience to a celebration in Sri Lanka. Pathirage’s feat also distinguished him as the fourth Asian athlete to surpass the 90m mark in javelin.
Sachin Yadav, representing India, faced a challenging debut at the Diamond League in Rome, finishing eighth with a throw of 79.18m. Despite this, Yadav’s previous achievements, including a fourth-place finish at the World Championships in Tokyo, underscore his potential in international athletics. Notably, Yadav outperformed his compatriot Neeraj Chopra, a former Olympic and world champion, in the Tokyo event.
