In Neeraj Chopra's absence, Sri Lanka's Rumesh obliterates competition to win Diamond League final
Sri Lankan athlete Rumesh Pathirage won the 2026 Diamond League final in men's javelin with a throw of 89.04 meters. He dominated the season in the absence of Indian star Neeraj Chopra, who was sidelined by an ankle injury.
Why it matters
The rise of a new regional talent in javelin marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of international track and field.
In the absence of Neeraj Chopra, Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage obliterated the competition to win his maiden Diamond League final in men's javelin. The win capped off an incredible season for the Sri Lankan superstar, who has won every major competition that he has participated in 2026.On Saturday evening in Brussels, Rumesh won the Diamond League final with a monster throw of 89.04 metres, beating the likes of 2025 world champion Keshorn Walcott and 2024 Diamond League final champion Anderson Peters. Rumesh wins 2026 Diamond League final. (Reuters Photo)The Sri Lankan superstar, who has had an unprecedented rise this season, dominated nearly every single throw on Saturday. Rumesh started with a modest throw of 80.42m, which put him in third place after the first round, behind Keshorn and Peters.
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