Sri Lanka, a tiny island nation tucked below the southernmost tip of India, has never been known to produce top stars in track and field events. In the good old days, when a certain Susanthika Jayasinghe won a silver medal in the 200m dash at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, it was a massive achievement.
\n\nSusanthika became a sensation, reaching heights that no other South Asian athlete had achieved on the Olympic track. Add to that her bronze medal at the World Championships, again in the 200m, and she had firmly established herself as the queen of the track.
\n\nFocusing on the 2026 season, the rise of Rumesh Tharange Pathirage has been nothing short of remarkable. At 23, what the young man has achieved this season has been phenomenal, almost as if he has peaked at every event he has competed in.
\n\nNot many would have imagined that a Sri Lankan, relatively unheralded on the global athletics circuit, would storm the field in the javelin – a highly technical event that demands a rare combination of speed, strength and precision.
\n\nWhen he appeared in Glasgow, the sight of a champion standing focused and composed was striking for many onlookers. The…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports
