Sir Lanka hails Golden boy Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage who claims first Commonwealth Gold in 20 years.
BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
(eLanka Sports Editor).
Sri Lanka’s rise in sport other than Cricket is becoming very noticeable as Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage threw a magnificent 89.75 meters to grab Gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
He said after the medal presentation the he was stoked to hear the Sri Lanka national anthem being played on the podium.
Ranked second in the world to German Julian Weber after that performance, Tharanga is a bright future for Sri Lanka’s Athletics program. The best achievement on the Javelin was from another German Uwe Hohn who threw a monstrous 104.80 which has never been challenged.
23-year-old Tharanga, from a village in Kalutara showed poise and confidence to blow away two former Olympic Gold medallists leaving two Indians Tokyo Olympic Gold medallist Neera Chopra from India and Nadeem from Pakistan his wake.
Humble but yet proud of his contribution to his motherland, Tharanga spoke of his hard work and dedication despite not having the best training methods from his home environment initially.
Joining the Sri Lanka Air Force, he got the backing needed and subsequent scholarships with the blessing from International Olympic Committee (IOC), he developed and perfected his craft and now looks certain to be a medal favourite at the next Olympic Games.
He said his love for softball Cricket as a fast bowler was a key to his arm strength and control in his other passion, the Javelin throw.
Tharanga’s herculean effort brought glory to Sri Lanka after a 20 year lapse since weight lifter Chintaka Vidanage grabbed Gold at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
Sr Lanka won their first Gold medal in 1950 at the Auckland Games 76 years ago.
These games have shown a noticeable improvement in Sri Lanka’s Athletics program. With a few making an impression in the heats.
Para athlete Palitha Bandara won Silver for Sri Lanka earlier in the Duscus event, F41-44 F61-64 with a throw of 46.84 meters. He followed his similar effort at the 2022 Birmingham Games with a throw of 44.20 metres.
Bandara was placed second to Welshman Aled Davies who threw 48.38 metres.
A Corporal in Sri Lanka’s Army National Guard, Bandara hails from Thalangoda in Matale.
