Sri Lankan javelin thrower and world champion Rumesh Tharanga returned to the country early today (15) on a bittersweet note after discovering that all five of his competition javelins had been damaged during his flight home.
Tharanga arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport at around 5.10 a.m. on Turkish Airlines flight TK-730 from Istanbul, following a successful campaign in which he secured both the Ultimate Javelin Throwing Championship and Diamond League titles.
Speaking after his arrival, Tharanga expressed his disappointment over the damage to the javelins, which he described as highly valuable to his career.
“I used to come to Katunayake Airport with joy, but today I came out of the airport with great sadness,” Tharanga said.
The five javelins were the same ones he had used in several of his major victories, including his recent triumph at the Ultimate Javelin Throwing Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
Tharanga said he had planned to use the javelins in upcoming major competitions, including the 2027 Asian Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games. He also hoped to preserve them as cherished souvenirs of his sporting achievements.
He has taken steps to lodge a formal complaint with Turkish Airlines at the airport regarding the damage.
Tharanga recently produced a remarkable throw of 91.09 metres to win the Ultimate Championship and is currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the javelin throw.
Despite the setback, the world champion received a warm welcome upon his return. His parents, relatives and friends, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Sports and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force, where Tharanga serves, gathered at the airport to welcome him home.
