Sri Lanka’s Pathirage stuns Neeraj Chopra to win Commonwealth javelin gold

GLASGOW: Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage produced a championship-winning throw of 89.75 metres to claim the men’s javelin gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday, finishing ahead of India’s Neeraj Chopra.

Chopra, the Olympic and world champion, settled for silver after recording a season-best effort of 85.83 metres, while compatriot Yashvir Singh secured bronze with a personal-best throw of 85.41 metres on his final attempt.

Chopra briefly led the competition after his season-best effort before Pathirage responded with the winning throw, which proved beyond the reach of the rest of the field.

Yashvir, who improved with his final throw, completed a double podium finish for India in the event.

India’s Rohit Yadav finished seventh.

Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem endured a disappointing outing, failing to advance beyond the opening three rounds after finishing outside the top eight.

Pathirage’s victory marked a major upset in one of the marquee athletics events of the Games, denying Chopra a Commonwealth title despite the Indian’s best performance of the season.