Defending champion Arshad Nadeem’s bid to retain his Commonwealth Games javelin title fell apart within three throws on Friday.
Nadeem fouled his opening attempt at Scotstoun Stadium and never recovered. He managed only one legal throw of 77.41 meters, coming in the second round, before three more fouls ended his competition. The Pakistani star, who also holds the Olympic title, finished ninth out of the 12 athletes in the final.
While Nadeem struggled, Pathirage seized his moment. The Sri Lankan launched a throw of 89.75 meters in the second round, a mark none of his rivals could match. He fouled all five of his remaining attempts, but the damage was already done. The distance held up for gold.
Pathirage’s win marks Sri Lanka’s first Commonwealth Games gold medal in 20 years. The country’s last champion was weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage, who won the men’s 62kg title at Melbourne 2006. Pathirage also becomes the third South Asian athlete to win the men’s javelin title at the Commonwealth Games.
India’s Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion and a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, took silver with a season-best throw of 85.83 meters, also recorded in the second round. His teammate Yash Vir Singh claimed bronze with a personal best of 85.41 meters, thrown on his final attempt.
The occasion marks the first time India has won two medals in the men’s javelin at a single Commonwealth Games.
