Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena continued his dominant run in 2026 by clinching gold at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Tianjin, China. The Tuanbo Sports Center witnessed Obiena’s flawless performance in the men’s pole vault final on Saturday, where he cleared 5.70 meters in a single attempt to secure the top spot.
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Stellar Performance Secures Top Spot
Obiena made an attempt at 5.80 meters but was unable to surpass the bar in all his tries. China’s Li Chenyang also failed to clear 5.80 meters, settling for silver after successfully clearing 5.60 meters on his second attempt, while Chen Yang completed the podium with bronze after clearing 5.40 meters in one try.
Obiena, who holds the Asian indoor record at 5.93 meters from the ISTAF Indoor competition in February 2024, marked his second gold of the 2026 season, following his triumph at the International Springer-Meeting in Germany on January 29.
“Your boy is finally an Asian Indoor Champ. PS: This means way more than just a win for me!!! Will elaborate more on that later,” Obiena shared on his social media accounts, reflecting his excitement over the milestone.
Continued Winning Streak Abroad
The 30-year-old athlete will soon return to Germany for the INIT Indoor Meeting in Karlsruhe, where he is set to compete again against Menno Vloon of the Netherlands. Obiena and Vloon were declared co-winners at the International Springer-Meeting earlier this year.
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) congratulated Obiena for his performance, stating, “Never a doubt...still the best in Asia! Congratulations to Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena for winning GOLD at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.”
Obiena’s successful indoor season, which also included a bronze at the 6th ISTAF Indoor Düsseldorf, and prior victories at the SEA Games in Bangkok and the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati City, cements his status as one of Asia’s top pole vaulters. His achievements continue to inspire Filipino athletes and shine a spotlight on the country’s growing presence in international track and field competitions.
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