Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has secured a thrilling victory at the 2026 Wanda Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, winning the men’s javelin throw with an impressive 88.14-metre effort.
Tharanga produced the decisive throw in the third round to edge India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who finished second with a season-best 88.05 metres. Grenada’s Anderson Peters took third place with 86.69 metres.
The Lausanne triumph adds another major victory to what has been a remarkable 2026 season for the 23-year-old Sri Lankan. Tharanga has already established himself among the world’s leading javelin throwers, highlighted by his extraordinary 92.62-metre world-leading throw in Rome in June, which set a new Sri Lankan national record and a Diamond League meeting record.
His latest victory also continues a remarkable run of success against some of the biggest names in the sport. The Lausanne meeting featured an elite field including Chopra, Peters and other Olympic and world champions.
With another Diamond League victory secured, Tharanga is strengthening his position as one of the leading contenders in men’s javelin and further raising Sri Lanka’s profile on the international athletics stage.
