Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his outstanding form by winning the men’s javelin throw event at the Doha Diamond League 2026 in Qatar on Friday.
The 23-year-old Sri Lankan produced a winning throw of 88.68 metres on his fourth attempt to secure gold against a star-studded field featuring two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, former Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra of India, American athlete Curtis Thompson, and reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.
Tharanga’s throw proved enough to keep his rivals at bay, with Peters finishing second after recording 86.38 metres, while Thompson claimed third place. Chopra, competing for the first time this year following a spell on the sidelines due to injuries, finished fourth with a best effort of 85.69 metres.
Although he fell short of the world-leading 92.62-metre national record he set at the Rome Diamond League two weeks ago, Tharanga once again demonstrated why he is currently one of the world’s leading javelin throwers.
“I’m glad I had a win today. It was one of my dreams to compete here as the first-ever Sri Lankan in the Diamond League circuit,” Tharanga said after the event.
The Doha victory marks his second Diamond League title this month, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s rising stars.
Earlier this week, Tharanga climbed to second place in the world rankings, a historic achievement for Sri Lankan athletics. According to the latest rankings, he has accumulated 1,333 points following a series of exceptional performances on the international stage.
Germany’s Julian Weber remains the world’s top-ranked javelin thrower with 1,360 points, while Tharanga continues to close the gap with his consistent success.
Tharanga’s recent achievements have placed Sri Lankan athletics firmly in the global spotlight and strengthened hopes for further success at upcoming international competitions.