Games-World No.1 Pathirage's javelins damaged on flight ahead of Asian Games

KATUNAYAKE, Sri Lanka - Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Sri Lanka's top contender for a gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games, has faced a setback after his javelins were damaged during a flight from the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship. The 23-year-old athlete secured a gold with a throw of 91.09 meters in Budapest, but his joy turned to disappointment upon landing in Katunayake.

Pathirage shared images of five broken javelins, including the three utilized during the Ultimate Championship, on social media, captioning the post, "Thank you Turkish Airlines." However, he later clarified to reporters that the incident was not a deliberate act but a "priceless loss" for him. While he stated, "It's not a big issue, I'll move on," media reports suggested that the Sri Lankan sports ministry would provide Pathirage with replacement javelins.