World No.1 Pathirage’s javelins damaged on flight ahead of Asian Games
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He won gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage is Sri Lanka’s best hope for gold at the Asian Games but his preparations have been thrown out of whack after his javelins were broken on a flight back from the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The 23-year-old won gold in Budapest with a best throw of 91.09m, but his triumphant homecoming turned sour when he landed in Katunayake.
Pathirage posted a picture of five damaged javelins, including the three he used at the Ultimate Championship, on social media on Sept 15 with the caption: “Thank you Turkish Airlines.”
Turkish Airlines did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside normal business hours in Turkey.
Pathirage, who became world No. 1 in August, is expected to battle Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem for the gold medal at the Sept 19-Oct 4 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
“It might be a mistake by the airline but it caused a priceless loss for me,” Pathirage told reporters.
“It’s not a big issue, I’ll move on.”
Media reports in Sri Lanka said the country’s sports ministry would provide Pathirage with a new set of javelins. REUTERS