Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage added another major title to his remarkable 2026 season, winning gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya. But even after standing on top of the podium, the 23-year-old admitted there was one thing missing from the competition — a contest against India’s Neeraj Chopra.

Pathirage produced a best throw of 88.55 metres in his sixth and final attempt to win the men’s javelin gold medal. India’s Yashvir Singh finished second with a personal best of 85.72m, while Rohit Yadav took bronze with 84.35m. The result gave India a double podium finish despite Chopra’s absence.

Chopra, the defending Asian Games champion and a two-time Olympic medallist, was ruled out of the event after suffering an ankle ligament injury during training. He had already withdrawn from the remainder of the 2026 season, including the Asian Games and Diamond League Final.

Pathirage said he would have liked to face Chopra in Nagoya, especially after their closely fought battles earlier this year.

“It’s his bad luck,” Pathirage said, referring to Chopra’s injury. He added that he does speak to the Indian star occasionally and expressed disappointment that the two could not meet at the Asian Games.

Their rivalry has become one of the most closely followed stories in international javelin this season. Pathirage defeated Chopra at the Doha Diamond League, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Lausanne Diamond League. In Lausanne, the Sri Lankan won with 88.14m, just nine centimetres ahead of Chopra’s 88.05m.

The Asian Games final therefore offered another opportunity for Pathirage to underline his dominance. He had already established himself as the world’s leading javelin thrower in 2026, producing a world-leading 92.62m in Rome earlier in the year. He also won gold at the Commonwealth Games and has collected several Diamond League titles.

The conditions in Nagoya, however, made it difficult for him to produce another 90-metre throw. Rain affected the competition and made it harder for the athletes to maintain a firm grip on their javelins.

Pathirage said he had hoped to challenge the Asian Games and Asian records but could not produce his biggest throw because of the wet conditions. Still, the victory carried special meaning as he became the first Sri Lankan javelin thrower to win an Asian Games gold medal.

India’s Yashvir and Rohit kept the competition interesting. Yashvir started strongly and remained in medal contention throughout the final before saving his best effort for his sixth attempt. His 85.72m throw not only secured silver but also improved his personal best.

Rohit, meanwhile, briefly moved into the lead with his 84.35m effort before eventually finishing third. His bronze added another significant chapter to his comeback after recovering from an elbow injury and surgery.

The Indian pair had been given greater responsibility after Chopra’s withdrawal, and both responded with podium finishes. India had also secured two medals in the men’s javelin at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, where Chopra won gold and Kishore Jena took silver.

For Pathirage, the victory capped another exceptional performance in a season in which he has rarely been beaten. He has finished first in 13 of the 14 competitions he has entered this year, according to reports, with three throws over the 90-metre mark.

Despite that extraordinary run, Pathirage played down the idea of a special formula behind his success.

“No secret, just normal training every year,” he said after the Asian Games final.

His focus has already moved beyond Nagoya. The Sri Lankan star identified next year’s World Championships as his next major target before turning his attention to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Chopra’s return will remain an important part of that future storyline. The two have already produced some of the most competitive javelin contests of the 2026 season, and Pathirage’s latest comments suggest he would welcome another opportunity to compete against the Indian champion.

At the Asian Games, though, the gold belonged to Pathirage, while Yashvir and Rohit ensured India still left the javelin final with two medals. While Pathirage celebrated another major title, India found plenty to cheer about as Yashvir and Rohit delivered strong performances and kept the country’s javelin hopes alive.