Sri Lanka’s javelin star Rumesh Tharanga has won the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, defeating a field featuring several of the world’s leading throwers.
After a relatively slow start following the commencement of the event at around 9:40 p.m. Sri Lanka time, Tharanga produced a throw of 87.11 metres in his third attempt to move into the lead.
He then delivered the decisive throw in the fourth round, sending the javelin 91.09 metres to strengthen his position at the top of the standings.
Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished second with a throw of 86.18 metres, while Germany’s Julian Weber secured third place with 85.89 metres.
Tharanga entered the competition as one of the leading contenders after recording a world-leading 92.62 metres earlier this year. He also won the men’s javelin title in this year’s Diamond League campaign.
Germany’s Weber was regarded as one of Tharanga’s strongest challengers, having thrown 90.40 metres at this year’s European Athletics Championships to set a new championship record.
However, Tharanga produced the performance that mattered most in Budapest, securing another major international title for Sri Lanka.
