- From Ethirveerasingham to Tharushi — Sri Lanka’s athletics legacy awaits another golden chapter
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| Rumesh Tharanga |
By Hishan Welmilla
There is a long history behind Sri Lanka’s hopes of seeing another athlete stand on the top step of the Asian Games podium.
Tomorrow morning in Nagoya, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage will begin his campaign in the men’s javelin throw, carrying with him not only the expectations of a nation but also the legacy of generations of Sri Lankan athletes who have produced some of the country’s most memorable Asian Games moments.
Rumesh is scheduled to compete from 7.35 a.m. Sri Lanka time today (26), with fellow Sri Lankan Sumedha Ranasinghe also entered in the event. The leading throwers will then contest the final on September 28 at 4.55 p.m. Sri Lanka time.
For Sri Lanka, athletics has historically been at the heart of its Asian Games success.
The country won its first Asian Games medal at the inaugural Games in New Delhi in 1951, when M.A. Akbar won silver in the pole vault. Seven years later, high jumper Nagalingam Ethirveerasingham created history by winning Sri Lanka’s first Asian Games gold medal, clearing 2.03 metres in Tokyo.
The golden years continued in Bangkok in 1970, when Lucien Rosa won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, while Wickramasinghe Wimaladasa won the 400m gold in Tehran in 1974. Sri Lanka’s 4x400m relay team also captured gold at the 1974 Games.
After several difficult decades, Sri Lankan athletics enjoyed another memorable revival at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. Tharushi Karunarathna won the women’s 800m gold, while Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge won silver in the women’s javelin. Sri Lanka also collected bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays.
Overall, Sri Lanka won five medals in Hangzhou — one gold, two silver and two bronze — its highest Asian Games medal haul since Busan 2002.
Sri Lanka won six medals at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan — two gold, one silver and three bronze — finishing 21st in the overall medal table. The gold medals came from athletics, with Susanthika Jayasinghe winning the women’s 100m in 11.15 seconds and Damayanthi Dharsha taking the women’s 400m in 51.05 seconds.
Anura Rohana secured the silver medal in the men’s individual golf event, while Rohan Pradeep Kumara won bronze in the men’s 400m in 45.67 seconds. Kumara also joined Ranga Wimalawansa, Prasanna Amarasekara and Sugath Thilakaratne to win bronze in the men’s 4×400m relay, while Rayappan Jebamalai Edward added another bronze in karate.
That history gives added significance to Rumesh’s challenge.
The 23-year-old enters Nagoya in extraordinary form. He threw a Sri Lankan national record of 92.62 metres in Rome in June, a mark that placed him at the top of the 2026 world list at the time. He subsequently produced 92.07m in Zurich and 91.09m in Budapest. World Athletics currently lists all three among the leading men›s javelin performances of 2026.
His 92.62m throw also places him second on the Asian all-time list behind Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, according to the current World Athletics rankings.
And that could make the Nagoya final particularly compelling.
Rumesh is expected to face strong opposition, with Nadeem and other leading Asian throwers forming part of a highly competitive field. His own form, however, means Sri Lanka enters the event with a genuine medal contender.
There is also a remarkable human story behind his preparations. Five of Rumesh’s javelins were damaged during air travel following his World Athletics Ultimate Championship victory in Budapest. Despite the setback, he remained determined to continue his Asian Games campaign.
Now comes the moment.
First, Rumesh must negotiate the qualification stage tomorrow morning. Then, if he advances, the battle for the medals awaits on September 28.
Sri Lanka has waited for another Asian Games athletics champion since Tharushi Karunarathna’s 800m triumph in Hangzhou.
In Nagoya, Rumesh has the opportunity to write the next chapter.
And if that javelin lands beyond the decisive mark, Sri Lanka’s long and proud Asian Games athletics story could gain another golden page.
