Javelin champion Rumesh Tharanga returned to Sri Lanka last night after winning the gold medal in the javelin throw at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Tharanga arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport at around 11.30 p.m. aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX-611 from Hong Kong.
Speaking to journalists at the airport, Tharanga said he travelled to Japan with the goal of winning the gold medal and breaking the existing Asian record in the event.
However, he said rainy weather conditions in Nagoya prevented him from achieving the record.
Tharanga also expressed his gratitude to Sri Lankans living in Japan who travelled around 600 to 700 kilometres to the Nagoya stadium to support him during the competition.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Sports, Sri Lanka Athletics Association, National Olympic Committee and Sri Lanka Air Force, along with members of Tharanga’s family, were present at the airport to welcome the champion.
