Sri Lankan star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage overcame challenging conditions and former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra to clinch the gold in javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Pathirage’s winning throw of 89.75m came on his second try. That he reached within touching distance of the 90m mark spoke volumes of his ability as the cold and windy weather made life difficult for the throwers. The 23-year-old is the only javelin thrower to have crossed the 90m barrier this season, boasting a personal and season best of 92.62m at the Rome Diamond League in June.
Pathirage has been in great form, winning seven of the eight competitions he has participated so far this season. He has won the Diamond League titles in Doha and Rome and finished second in Rabat, Morocco.
India, however, had reason to celebrate as it finished with both silver and bronze in the men's javelin throw event as Yashvir Singh clinched a surprise bronze with a spectacular final throw. The 24-year-old, who was making his debut at the Games, was in seventh place before his final attempt. He then unleashed a phenomenal throw of 85.41m, a new personal best that shattered his previous record of 83.72m and vaulted him into the bronze medal position.
Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympics champion Chopra threw a season's best distance of 85.83m in his second attempt, which won him the silver and marked a slight improvement on his 85.69m effort at the Doha Diamond League in June, his only other competition this season.
For the 28-year-old, the silver medal is a milestone in his return from a lower back injury that has troubled him since last September. The 2018 Gold Coast champion admitted he is still working his way back to peak form. "I can't say fitness is like before. But I am getting there slowly," Chopra said after the event. "There is still time for the Asian Games. I will compete in Diamond League before that. There will be more improvement. Will improve slowly."
Chopra also acknowledged the challenging conditions. "The weather was better than yesterday. It was good in the starting but later it became cold and there was wind. I also had a one go throw only, I thought it will go further but it didn't fly. I thought I could have pushed myself further. I'm trying to get into my rhythm. I am not able to do that well in these conditions, I like hot weather... (I'm) Indian blood."
The third Indian in the final, Rohit Yadav, came seventh with a throw of 81.56m.
The event also saw some surprising results, with Pakistan's defending champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist being eliminated after just three rounds with a best distance of 77.41m. Reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago finished in sixth place with 82.55m.
Chopra opened with an 80.97m throw before his silver-winning 85.83m effort. His subsequent valid throws measured 81.29m and 80.73m, with his final two attempts being fouls. Pathirage briefly conceded the lead to Chopra before his massive 89.75m throw in the second round, which ultimately secured him the gold. Ironically, all five of his other attempts were fouls, but that one throw was all he needed.
