Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage has made headlines with his impressive performance at the Diamond League in Rome, joining the ranks of Indian star Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem as prominent figures in the sport from the Indian subcontinent. World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla emphasized the importance of allowing Neeraj to enjoy his sport without facing undue pressure after his remarkable achievements.
At the Rome Diamond League held on Thursday night, Pathirage nearly matched Arshad Nadeem's Asian record, securing the men's javelin title with a throw of 92.62 meters. This impressive distance was just 35 centimeters short of Nadeem's record, which he set during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to reports from Olympics.com.
With Pathirage's recent success and Nadeem's Olympic gold, Neeraj Chopra, who faced challenges at the Tokyo World Championships with an eighth-place finish due to a back injury, now finds himself in a competitive landscape. His best throw of 90.23 meters, the only time he surpassed the 90-meter mark, has been eclipsed twice, indicating that he is no longer the sole top javelin thrower in Asia. As he prepares for the upcoming season and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, he will have to contend with these emerging rivals.
In an interview with Olympics.com, Sumariwalla advised against placing pressure on Neeraj, stressing that his health and enjoyment of the sport should be the primary focus. He stated, "Let Neeraj enjoy the sport. There is no need to put unnecessary pressure on him regarding which events he should compete in. He has already achieved so much for Indian athletics. The important thing is that he remains healthy, enjoys competing, and continues performing at the highest level."
Earlier this year, Neeraj ended his coaching relationship with Czech coach Jan Zelezny after a year marked by mixed results. Initially, they were set to collaborate until the end of the 2026 season. Previously, Neeraj was coached by German biomechanics expert Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, who played a crucial role in his gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and a silver at the Paris 2024 Games, along with a World Championships title in 2023.
During Zelezny's tenure, Neeraj made significant technical improvements, achieving his first 90-meter throw at the 2025 Doha Diamond League in May. Under Zelezny, he also secured victories at the Paris Diamond League, Ostrava Golden Spike, and the inaugural NC Classic in India, while finishing second at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial and the Diamond League Final.
Neeraj's eighth-place finish at the Tokyo World Championships was disappointing, especially as he was competing with a back injury. He subsequently decided to end his season to focus on recovery.
