Javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga made history at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo by becoming the first Sri Lankan male athlete to qualify for a final at the prestigious global event.
Although he fell short of his personal best of 86.50m, Tharanga delivered when it mattered most. Competing in Qualification Group B alongside 2024 Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, he opened with a throw of 82.44m, followed by 82.27m in his second attempt — a mark that would have left him outside the qualifying zone. However, in a clutch final throw, the 22-year-old launched 82.80m to finish sixth in Group B and twelfth overall, securing the last qualifying spot for the final.
Tharanga’s achievement marks a milestone for Sri Lankan athletics, as he becomes only the second javelin thrower from the country — male or female — to reach a World Championship final. The first was Nadeeka Lakmali, who finished 11th in the women’s final in 2013. Meanwhile, fellow Sri Lankan Sumedha Ranasinghe recorded 81.86m and placed 15th overall, narrowly missing out on a final berth.
The men’s javelin final is scheduled for 3:53 PM tomorrow (18th), where Tharanga will face a world-class field including Paris 2024 Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India, two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, 2015 world champion Julius Yego of Kenya, and 90m-plus thrower Julian Weber of Germany.
In other events yesterday, USA’s Katie Moon claimed her third consecutive World Championship gold medal in the women’s pole vault, clearing 4.90m. Portugal’s Isaac Nader won the men’s 1500m in a dramatic sprint finish, clocking 3:34.10 to edge out Britain’s Jake Wightman by just 0.02 seconds — a margin closer than that between the 100m gold and silver medallists.
Kenya’s Faith Cherotich stormed to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, setting a championship record of 8:51.59. Italy’s 20-year-old Mattia Furlani delivered his country’s first long jump gold medal with a personal best of 8.39m.
Today’s packed athletics schedule includes the men’s and women’s 400m finals. Botswana will be represented by three athletes in the men’s race, led by Collen Kebinatshipi, who clocked 43.61s in the heats. The women’s 400m final is one of the most anticipated events of the championship, featuring USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Bahrain’s former world champion Salwa Eid Naser, and Dominican Republic’s reigning Olympic and world champion Marileidy Paulino. All three athletes have run sub-49 seconds this season, with expectations high for a sub-48 second final.
Results:
Men
1500m – Isaac Nader (POR) 3:34.10, Jake Wightman (GBR) 3:34.12, Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN) 3:34.25
Long Jump – Mattia Furlani (ITA) 8.39m PB, Tajay Gayle (JAM) 8.34m =SB, Shi Yuhao (CHN) 8.33m SB.
Women
3000m Steeplechase – Faith Cherotich (KEN) 8:51.59 CR, Winfred Yavi (BRN) 8:56.46, Sembo Almayew (ETH) 8:58.86 PB.
Pole Vault – Katie Moon (USA) 4.90m SB, Sandi Morris (USA) 4.85m SB, Tina Šutej (SLO) 4.80m SB.