The opportunity for qualification arose during the last available competition of the season, held as part of the Indian Athletics Series in Ludhiana. Initially, the Federation Cup, conducted in May, was designated as the qualifying event, but due to adverse windy conditions that prevented athletes from reaching the required mark, another chance was added.

Impact of Sachin Yadav’s Injury on Indian Athletics

The successful qualifications of Rohit and Yashvir provided a much-needed boost to Indian athletics, especially following the disappointing news regarding Sachin Yadav. The World Championships finalist had to withdraw from the competition due to an elbow injury and is now likely to miss the upcoming Games in Glasgow. Notably, Yadav, who placed fourth at the Tokyo World Championships last year, has not yet achieved the CWG qualification mark, with his best throw this season recorded at 81.95 metres in New Delhi this April.

Throughout the current season, the 26-year-old has faced several challenges, finishing fifth at the Federation Cup with a throw of 79.07 metres and eighth at his Diamond League debut in Rome, where he managed only 79.18 metres, significantly below his personal best of 86.27 metres.

Growing Competition in Javelin Throwing

Despite the setbacks, India remains a prominent force in the javelin throw discipline. Following Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, there has been a notable increase in interest and performance within the sport across the country. However, Indian throwers now contend with rising competition, particularly from Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, who recently set a new career-best throw of 92.62 metres during the Rome Diamond League.

Neeraj Chopra’s absence from the Doha Diamond League on June 19 has also raised concerns among fans and stakeholders. The accomplished athlete is currently recuperating from a back injury in Switzerland. With a stellar record that includes gold and silver medals from the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, Chopra’s performance is highly anticipated. He commenced his Diamond League journey last year in Doha, where he exceeded the 90-metre mark.

At present, the 28-year-old is completing a 47-day off-season training camp in Bienne, Switzerland. He is accompanied by his long-time physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha and coach Jai Choudhary, who are both integral to his preparation for the imminent Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

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Pathirage’s throw stands as the 21st best overall in the history of the event, a record that is predominantly led by Jan Zelezny, who set an impressive 98.48m distance in 1996. This latest achievement not only established a new national record for Sri Lanka but also marked a world-leading throw for 2026, alongside setting a meet record at the prestigious Diamond League event.

His performance at the event was especially noteworthy as he faced a highly competitive field, which notably did not include fellow high-profile competitors Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra. Pathirage made his mark by posting the meet record during his second attempt. Following that, however, he experienced four fouls, yet none of the other nine athletes could surpass a distance of 85m. Former world champion Anderson Peters placed second with a throw of 83.89m.

Background and Path to Success

Despite his evident talent in throwing, Rumesh Pathirage initially gravitated towards cricket, much like many Sri Lankan youths. He was already displaying remarkable potential as a fast bowler, clocking speeds of 134 kilometres per hour at the under-18 level. In a nationwide talent search event identified as a breeding ground for international talent, he finished in second for speed in his category, reflecting his competitive edge. He had an impressive performance for St Peter’s College in Colombo, where he took five wickets while also scoring a half-century in the same match.

He eventually decided to take a different path, expressing that cricket was marred by political involvement and intense competition, which made it challenging to gain national recognition. In contrast, Pathirage felt that talent alone in javelin would earn him the recognition he sought. Beginning his javelin journey in 2017 under the guidance of his father, a discus and shot-put athlete, he recorded an initial throw of 30m. Remarkably, within just two months, he improved to 63m.

His progress continued steadily; he recorded a throw of 85.45m at the Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo in 2024. In early 2025, he secured third place at the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru with a distance of 84.34m. A month later, he shattered the Sri Lankan national record with a throw of 86.50m in Bhubaneswar, qualifying him directly for the World Championships held in Tokyo, where he achieved a commendable sixth position with 84.38m, finishing ahead of an injured Neeraj Chopra.

Support from Rivals and Future Aspirations

Neeraj Chopra has proven to be more than just a competitor for Pathirage; he has also been a mentor. Chopra invited Pathirage to Bengaluru, encouraging him to push his limits in the sport. Notably, he provided guidance on public speaking, advising him to practice English to prepare for future podium appearances. This mentorship has impacted Pathirage positively as he navigates his burgeoning athletic career.

As he continues to gain recognition and accolades, Rumesh Pathirage’s recent accomplishment in Rome has written a significant chapter in Asian javelin history. His trajectory in javelin is marked by rapid progress and remarkable milestones, positioning him as a formidable contender in the international arena.

With ambitions to further improve and achieve new records, Rumesh Pathirage is now focused on his future endeavours, building on the solid foundation of talent and hard work he has established over the past several years.

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Returning to the French capital for the first time since 2017—where he finished fifth as a rising junior—Chopra looked to make a statement. And he did, launching his best attempt on his first try at the Charlety Stadium, a mark that none of his rivals managed to eclipse across six rounds.

Germany’s Julian Weber, who had recently defeated Chopra in Doha and Poland, delivered a best throw of 87.88 meters, while Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva surprised with a personal best and new South American record of 86.62 meters, finishing third.

Although Chopra couldn’t repeat his historic 90.23-meter effort from Doha earlier this year, his performance was enough to outclass a competitive field that included Olympic and World Championship medalists. Notably, his second attempt reached 85.10 meters, but he fouled his next three throws before closing the evening with 82.89 meters.

Changing weather conditions, particularly a dip in temperature as the event progressed, seemed to affect many of the athletes. Anderson Peters of Grenada, once seen as a key rival, could only manage 80.29 meters to place fifth. Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago finished just outside the podium in fourth with 81.66 meters.

Chopra’s latest Diamond League win adds to a growing list of accomplishments on the international circuit. With this victory, he now has five Diamond League titles, including:

• Lausanne 2022

   

• Zurich Final 2022

   

• Doha 2023

   

• Lausanne 2023

   

• Paris 2025

   

Chopra’s road to Paris was not without setbacks. He finished second in Doha despite his record-breaking 90-meter throw, and again fell short at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland, where Julian Weber again outperformed him. In that competition, held under cloudy skies, Chopra threw just 84.14 meters.

Earlier in 2025, Chopra began his season by winning a smaller event in Potchefstroom, South Africa, with a distance of 84.52 meters. The Paris Diamond League was only his second appearance in the searies this year, making the win a strong indicator of form leading into a busy schedule.

Looking ahead, the reigning Olympic and World Champion will compete next at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic on June 24. He will then headline the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, to be held in Bengaluru on July 5—a World Athletics Category A event that he is also organising.

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