Champion Rumesh Pathirana Adds Another Title Despite Faulty Javelins

New Delhi – The Sri Lankan javelin prodigy Rumesh Pathirana added yet another accolade to his impressive 2024 campaign, even as he grappled with damaged competition equipment. After triumphing at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest with a throw of 91.09 metres, the athlete discovered that four of his competition javelins were compromised during the return flight from Hungary.

Pathirana posted photos of the broken implements on Instagram, captioning the images with a succinct "Bad Luck" remark. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the airline, attaching a broken‑heat emoji and the words "Thank you Turkish Airlines."

A Sri Lankan news service said the athlete has filed a formal complaint against the carrier. While acknowledging that the mishandling of his javelins may have occurred on the airline’s part, Pathirana stressed that the setback would not distract him from upcoming meets.

This season marks Pathirana’s third occasion of crossing the 90‑metre threshold. Earlier, he set a new national record of 92.62 metres in Rome and later won the Zurich Diamond League with a 92.07‑metre throw.

Dominating 11 of 12 contests entered this year, he has also secured victories at the Commonwealth Games and multiple Diamond League events in Rome, Doha, Lausanne and Zurich, becoming the first Sri Lankan to win a Diamond League final.

His consistent performances keep the pressure on global rivals, including India's Neeraj Chopra, and cement his status as a leading figure in the sport.