Asian Games favourite Rumesh Pathirage suffers setback after javelins break during air travel

Rumesh Pathirage is the hot favourite to win the men’s javelin gold at Asian Games 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

Sri Lanka’s star javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage has suffered a setback in his preparation for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya after many of his javelins were damaged during air travel.

Pathirage won the men’s javelin throw title at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, on September 13 and was heading back to Colombo when his javelins were damaged, Sri Lankan news media reported.

“All three javelins I used for over 90 throws have been damaged. It might have been a mistake by the airline, but that’s how it is. It’s not a big issue. I’ll move on,” Pathirage was quoted as saying by Sri Lankan media account NewsWire on social media platform X.

The 23-year-old Pathirage, who is having a breakout season, produced a huge throw of 91.09m during the event — the third time he has gone past the 90m mark in competition this year.

In July, Pathirage beat India’s Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion, for the Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. Earlier this month, in Brussels, he won the Diamond League Final.

Pathirage is the hot favourite to win the men’s javelin gold at the Asian Games with India’s Neeraj Chopra out injured and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem struggling for form.