Sri Lanka javelin star's equipment destroyed on Turkish Airlines flight

Sri Lankan javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage returned home to find his personal competition javelins destroyed during transit on a Turkish Airlines flight, prompting his government to pledge replacement equipment and pursue legal action against the airline. The 23-year-old athlete, who won the men's javelin title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest on September 13, discovered the damage upon arriving in Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Pathirage posted photographs of the snapped javelins on social media, listing the throwing distances achieved with each one, including a personal best of 92.62 metres. "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," Pathirage stated. His coach, Tony Prasanna, described the incident as a "rude shock" and a "psychological setback," noting the javelins were packed carefully and were intended for use at the upcoming Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics.