Asian Games: Arshad Nadeem finishes fourth as Rumesh Pathirage strikes javelin gold in rainy Nagoya
Arshad Nadeem threw a season-best 80.29m but still finished fourth as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage claimed javelin gold in a rain-soaked final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Monday.
The Olympic champion, competing under heavy skies and on a slick runway, had a difficult start, managing 76.69m on his first attempt before a foul on his second.
He improved drastically on his third with 80.29m to climb to fourth, but could not build on it — three consecutive fouls followed, ending his challenge.
Pathirage, the World No. 1 and heavy favourite, lived up to his billing.
Third after three throws with 83.56m, he unleashed 88.33m on his fourth attempt, beating his chest in delight as he moved ahead of both Indians. He improved again in the sixth with 88.55m.
The Sri Lankan’s dominance is all the more remarkable given the disruption to his season. Just two weeks before the Games, all five of his javelins — the same implements he used for every 90m throw this year — were found shattered after a flight from Budapest, where he had won the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
India’s Yashvir Singh took silver with a personal-best 85.72m on his final attempt, while compatriot Rohit Yadav claimed bronze with 84.35m. Yashvir had set the tone early with 83.56m on his first throw, before Rohit briefly moved ahead with 84.35m in the third round.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Yasir finished ninth, his best effort 73.50m.
The result caps a difficult season for Arshad, who has struggled to rediscover the form that saw him win Olympic gold in Paris with a record 92.97m throw.
He finished ninth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and fifth at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Pathirage, by contrast, has been unstoppable. The 23-year-old has won 11 of his 12 competitions this year, thrown beyond 90m three times, and claimed the Diamond League Final, Commonwealth gold and the World Ultimate title.
