Sri Lankan javelin throw champion Rumesh Tharanga has risen to second place in the latest world rankings, marking a significant achievement for Sri Lanka’s athletics.

According to the latest rankings, Tharanga has secured a score of 1,333 following outstanding performances in recent international meets.

The Sri Lankan athlete moved up the rankings following his victories at the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meeting held in the Czech Republic where he won the first place in the men’s javelin throw event and at the Rome Diamond League Athletics Championships held in Rome, Italy, where he outperformed several of the world’s leading javelin throwers, including Anderson Peters of Grenada and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, German athlete Julian Weber is still the top-ranked javelin thrower with 1,360 points.

Tharanga has surpassed several world-class athletes, including Olympic gold medalists, in the latest standings. 

Accordingly, world-renowned Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra is in 5th place in these rankings, while Pakistan’s current Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem is in 10th place. Another Indian athlete, Sachin Yadav, holds the eighth position.

Meanwhile, Tharanga delivered another outstanding performance to claim first place in the men’s javelin throw event at the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meeting held in the Czech Republic yesterday (16).

He secured the title with a remarkable throw of 86.57 metres, outperforming a strong international field and finishing at the top of the standings.

The latest achievements further cement Tharanga’s status as one of the world’s leading javelin throwers and highlight Sri Lanka’s growing presence in international athletics.