World-leading javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga underlined his status as the man to beat in world athletics with another sensational performance, winning the men’s javelin at the prestigious Weltklasse meeting in Zurich with a massive 92.07 metres.

‎Tharanga’s best effort came in the final round and left him just 21 centimetres short of the meeting record of 92.28m, which has stood for three decades.

‎The 23-year-old first overcome first round challenge from two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada. Peters took the early lead with a first-round throw of 86.93m, but Tharanga responded in the second round with 88.23m to move ahead.

‎He then increased his advantage in the third round before producing his best effort of the night in the final round, sending the javelin soaring to 92.07m.

‎Peters had to settle for second with 86.93m, while Poland’s Dawid Wegner was third with 85.16m. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott finished fourth with 83.02m, followed by Kenya’s Julius Yego (81.66m) and American Marc Anthony Minichello (80.38m).

‎The Zurich victory further strengthens Tharanga’s position at the top of the world javelin hierarchy at a crucial stage of the season. With the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels just a week away and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship looming, he has emerged as the athlete everyone will be watching.

‎Tharanga’s latest 92-metre-plus throw also provides a timely reminder of his extraordinary consistency at the highest level, as he continues his remarkable rise among the world’s elite javelin throwers. (RF)

Qatar’s prime minister has held meetings in the Iranian capital, discussing key issues including the future of the Strait of Hormuz, amid international hopes that dialogue between the United States and Iran on ending the war will resume.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Thursday discussed a proposed framework that includes the creation of a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a possible “joint project” to clear the strait of mines, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Iran says the mines were laid during the war.

The two officials also reviewed “the latest developments in the regional situation … along with the efforts being made to reduce escalation and create appropriate conditions for dialogue, contributing to the enhancement of regional security and stability”, the statement added.

Sheikh Mohammed, who is both prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, later met separately with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Ghalibaf emphasised the need to de-escalate regional tensions, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency. He and Sheikh Mohammed also exchanged views on the current developments in the region and efforts to create suitable conditions for resuming dialogue, the report added.

“Qatar believes that dialogue and diplomatic solutions remain the optimal path for addressing disputes and overcoming crises,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a post on X, adding that his discussions in Tehran serve as “confirmation of our continued efforts to de-escalate tensions … while opening the door to peaceful solutions – including underscoring the importance of respecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.”

Sheikh Mohammed also met with Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezai.

Rezai told him the “US must first take practical steps to fulfil Iran’s conditions and then Iran will proceed to open the Strait of Hormuz”, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Rezai also reiterated previous pledges by Tehran that if Washington “starts any evil”, Iran would “bring disaster to its military and economic interests”.

Sheikh Mohamed’s visit follows a week of intense diplomacy in Iran involving separate meetings with Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and senior Pakistani officials seeking ways to end the US-Israel war on Iran and reopen the strategic waterway through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes in peacetime.

[Aljazeera]

Less than 40 minutes after Alison dos Santos made history in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Weltklasse, another world record fell at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Zurich as Masai Russell sped to a 12.09* clocking to win the women’s 100m hurdles.

The Olympic champion, who had come close to the world record twice already this year, produced a flawless run over the barriers and stopped the clock at 12.09 (0.0m/s), taking 0.03 off the previous world record.

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan, the world record-holder heading into this race, was second in a season’s best of 12.23. European champion Nadine Visser was third in a season’s best of 12.34.

[World Athletics]