Sri Lankan javelin throw champion Rumesh Tharanga arrived at the BIA in Katunayake on Saturday (20) evening, following an exceptional international campaign in Europe and the Middle East.
There he secured three gold medals and a silver medal in four major athletic competitions.
Tharanga underlined his phenomenal talent at prestigious athletic meets in Morocco, Italy, Czech Republic, and Doha in Qatar competing against some of the world’s leading athletes.
Tharanga arrived aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, and a welcoming delegation comprising his parents, relatives, officials from the Sports Ministry along with reps from the SL Air Force were present at the BIA to receive the star athlete upon his arrival.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his impressive form to secure a dominant win in the Men’s javelin throw competition at the Doha Diamond League 2026 in Qatar on Friday (19).
Rumesh Tharanga beat a heavyweight javelin field including two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, USA’s Curtis Thompson, India's former Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra and reigning world title-holder Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.
Pathirage hit the front and ultimately sealed gold with his fourth javelin throw of 88.68m, although he did not trouble his world-leading personal best of 92.62m set two weeks ago in Rome.
Anderson Peters threw 86.38m for second with American world bronze medallist Curtis Thompson third.
In-form Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage threw 88.68m in his fourth attempt, leaving Anderson Peters more than two metres behind to take victory.
Former Olympic champion Chopra, competing for the first time this year after being sidelined with multiple injuries, threw 85.69m to finish fourth.
“I'm glad I had a win today... “It was one of my dreams to compete here as the first ever Sri Lankan in the Diamond League circuit,” said 23-year-old Tharanga.
This was Tharanga’s second Diamond League win this month after he stunned the athletics world with a massive 92.62m throw at the Rome Diamond League.
Earlier this week, Rumesh Tharanga climbed to second place in the world rankings, marking a significant achievement for Sri Lanka’s athletics.
According to the latest world rankings, Tharanga has secured a score of 1,333 following outstanding performances in recent international meets.
German athlete Julian Weber remains the top-ranked javelin thrower with 1,360 points, according to world rankings.
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