The Sri Lankan opened with 84.49m \u2013 a mark that would have been good enough to win \u2013 before launching his second-round effort way beyond 90 metres. In the process, he became the first man in 2026, and the first Sri Lankan ever, to break 90m.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His 92.62m added more than two metres to the meeting record of 90.34m set by Andreas Thorkildsen 20 years ago, moved Pathirage to eighth on the world all-time list and made him the second-best Asian thrower in history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was also the best throw in the world since the 2024 Olympic final, and secured him a clear victory over two-time world champion Anderson Peters, who was second with 83.91m, and world bronze medallist Curtis Thompson, who was third with 83.89m, according to World Athletics stats.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI tried my best today to set a national record and I managed to improve it by three metres,\u201d said Pathirage after the win. \u201cEven though I had only two valid attempts today, I am very stable mentally. It was very hot in Rabat, but the weather in Rome is good and felt like ideal conditions in which to throw far. Winning today felt like a Sri Lankan festival.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The feat made the Lankan only the fourth Asian to breach the 90m mark in javelin. The others are Chinese Taipei\u2019s Cheng Chao-Tsun (PB 91.36m), India\u2019s former Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra (90.23m) and reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who has breached the mark multiple times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Meanwhile, India\u2019s Sachin Yadav had a rather forgettable Diamond League debut in Rome, finishing eighth in a 10-man field, sandwiched between Olympic medallists Julius Yego and Jakub Vadlejch. His best throw measured 79.18m.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The feat made the Lankan only the fourth Asian to breach the 90m mark in javelin. The others are Chinese Taipei\u2019s Cheng Chao-Tsun (PB 91.36m), India\u2019s former Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra (90.23m) and reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who has breached the mark multiple times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In Tokyo, Yadav had eclipsed two-time Olympic medallist compatriot Neeraj Chopra, who finished an underwhelming eighth with 84.03m.<\/p>\r\n\r\n