Pathirage stuns Chopra and Nadeem to take Commonwealth javelin gold

**GLASGOW** — Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage upstaged Olympic champions Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem to win men's javelin gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, capping a breakout season for the former cricketer-turned-javelin star.

Pathirage, who led qualifying ahead of both rivals on July 30, held off India's Chopra in the July 31 final to deliver Sri Lanka's first Commonwealth Games athletics title, according to Al Jazeera and Glasgow 2026 organisers. Chopra took silver with what Indian outlets reported as a season-best throw, with compatriot Yash Vir Singh claiming bronze to complete an Indian double podium. The Statesman reported Chopra came within nine centimetres of the winner; the exact winning distance remains **Unverified** pending official results confirmation.

Nadeem, Pakistan's Olympic champion and defending Commonwealth titlist, finished ninth after a difficult season, The News Pakistan and Sportstar reported. He later cited a slow build-up to Glasgow, Rediff reported.

The result reshuffles the global javelin hierarchy ahead of the Diamond League leg in Lausanne, where olympics.com reported Chopra, Pathirage and Nadeem are all entered to meet again.

Kumar Sangakkara was among those hailing Pathirage's historic victory, Telangana Today reported.

**Sources:** Al Jazeera | olympics.com | Glasgow 2026

**Sources:** Google News, olympics.com, glasgow2026.com