Pathirage beats Chopra and Nadeem to win Commonwealth gold in javelin
Summary
Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the gold medal in the javelin event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, earning Sri Lanka’s first gold in athletics. He defeated strong competitors from Pakistan and India, including Olympic and defending champion Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra.Key Facts
- Pathirage won gold with a throw of 89.75 meters at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
- Arshad Nadeem, the defending Commonwealth and Olympic champion, exited early after only three throws.
- Neeraj Chopra earned silver with a season-best throw of 85.83 meters despite injury struggles.
- Yash Vir Singh of India took bronze with a personal best of 85.41 meters.
- The competition featured several athletes who have thrown over 90 meters in their careers.
- Keshorn Walcott, world champion from Trinidad and Tobago, placed sixth.
- Pathirage was once a fast cricket bowler and had a recorded bowling speed of 134 km/h as a teenager.
- Sri Lanka celebrated its first-ever athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
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