Sri Lanka’s Pathirage wins Asian Games javelin gold

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won the men’s javelin gold at the Asian Games on September 28, while India’s Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav took silver and bronze, respectively. Published accounts differ on the winning and silver-medal distances, and the available reports do not establish which figures are official. Pathirage’s winning throw was reported as either 88.55 metres or 88.33 metres. Singh’s silver-medal mark was listed as either 85.72 or 85.14 metres, while accounts agree Yadav won bronze with a throw of 84.35 metres. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem finished fourth, according to reports that gave his distance as 80.29 metres. The result capped a season in which Pathirage had also won the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. His reported personal best is 92.62 metres, thrown at the Rome Diamond League in June. One account described that mark as the world-leading throw of 2026. The event reports do not include an official results sheet to resolve the differing Asian Games distances. Pathirage has credited his earlier experience as a cricket fast bowler with helping his javelin technique. He said the overhead bowling action has similarities to the throwing movement.