Star javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage’s three prized javelins have been damaged in transit, just days before the Asian Games. The Sri Lankan, who has landed three separate 90m+ throws this season, revealed that all the javelins used for those national record-breaking throws were damaged while being transported by Turkish Airlines.
The Commonwealth Games and Diamond League winner was returning to Sri Lanka from Hungary after his victory at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships when his javelins were damaged in transit. Rumesh took to Instagram to reveal the incident, posting photographs of the broken equipment. The javelins were found damaged after he landed in Sri Lanka, prompting a complaint to be lodged with the airline.
“All three javelins I used for over 90 throws have been damaged. It might have been a mistake by the airline, but that’s how it is. It’s not a big issue. I’ll move on,” the Sri Lankan javelin star said.
The damage comes at an unfortunate time for Rumesh, who has been one of the standout athletes in world javelin this season. The 23 year old has won the Commonwealth Games, the Diamond League Final and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in 2026.
He has also thrown beyond 90 metres three times this season, with all three of those throws coming with the javelins that were damaged during the journey back to Sri Lanka.
WHY ARE THE JAVELINS IMPORTANT?
Javelins used by elite athletes are highly specialised pieces of equipment, with throwers often developing a preference for particular models and setups. Damage to competition javelins can therefore disrupt both training and preparations for a major event.
Rumesh’s javelins are manufactured by Javel Inn Ltd., the Hungarian company behind Nemeth Javelins. The company was founded in 1987 by Miklos Nemeth, who won Olympic gold in the javelin throw at the 1976 Montreal Games.
Nemeth was also the son of Imre Nemeth, the 1948 Olympic champion in the hammer throw.
Nemeth Javelins became known for its innovative rough surface design and has produced both aluminium and aluminium carbon composite javelins. The company says 15 different types of its javelins have received certification from the International Association of Athletics Federations, now known as World Athletics.
The brand’s equipment has also been used for world and European records, underlining the level of precision involved in the manufacture of elite javelins.
Nemeth’s specialised competition javelins can cost more than Rs 1 lakh apiece, making the loss of three of Rumesh’s primary competition weapons a significant setback even if the athlete himself has played down the incident.
“It’s not a big issue. I’ll move on,” Rumesh said.
He will now have to replace the damaged equipment as he prepares for the Asian Games, where he enters the men’s javelin competition among the leading contenders after a season in which he has established himself as one of the world’s top throwers.
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