Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Tharanga is set to compete today (13) in the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, where some of the world’s leading athletes are competing.
The event is scheduled to begin at 9:40 p.m. Sri Lanka time.
Ranked number one in the world in men’s javelin, Tharanga has recorded a world-leading throw of 92.62 metres this year, making him one of the main contenders for the title.
Tharanga, who won the javelin title at this year’s Diamond League, is expected to face his strongest challenge from Germany’s Julian Weber.
Weber produced a 90.40-metre throw to set a new championship record at this year’s European Athletics Championships.
The field also includes some of the world’s leading javelin throwers, including Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, Anderson Peters of Grenada and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship, which began on September 11, brings together elite athletes who have achieved top positions in the world rankings or won major competitions such as the Olympic Games, World Championships and Diamond League.
Today marks the final day of the competition, which aims to crown the best of the best in athletics.
The winner of each event will receive a prize of US$150,000.
Prize money will also be awarded to athletes finishing from second through eighth place, with the eighth-placed athlete receiving US$10,000.
