Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav endured a disappointing Diamond League debut in Rome, finishing eighth with a best throw of 79.18m. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage stole the spotlight by winning the event with a career-best 92.62m effort, the second-longest throw by an Asian. The victory marked Pathirage's maiden Diamond League title and first 90m-plus throw.

Rome: Top Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav's Diamond League debut ended in disappointment as he finished eighth in a star-studded 10-man field with a below par performance here on Thursday.

The 26-year-old could only muster a best throw of 79.18m on the day, well below his personal best of 86.27m which he had produced while finishing fourth in the Tokyo World Championships last year. He has had the season's best of 81.95m while finishing second at the Indian Athletics Series 3 in April in New Delhi.

Yadav began with a foul throw, and then had 79.18m, 77.02m, 76.62m, 75.54 in his next four attempts to end at the eighth spot after five throws. Only the top three after the fifth round are allowed to have their sixth and final throw.

The day saw Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage recording his maiden 90m-plus throw and the second longest by an Asian, sending his spear to 92.62m in his second attempt to win the title.