EJ Obiena successfully defended his Asian Games pole vault title, clearing 5.91 meters to win gold and set a new Games record on Tuesday, September 29, at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
The Filipino vaulter had a difficult start, missing his first two attempts at 5.80 meters. But after China’s Li Chen-Yang also failed to clear the height, Obiena secured the gold medal and turned his attention to one final jump.
Filipino star raises the bar
With the title already secured, Obiena took his time before making his final attempt and rallied the crowd at the rainy stadium.
He then cleared 5.91 meters, breaking his own Asian Games record of 5.90 meters set in Hangzhou in 2022. The mark also matched his season best.
“I’m satisfied. The Games record was already won,” Obiena said. “I think I have a good jump in me. That’s pretty much the story. I’m better, that’s for sure. I’m getting smarter,” he added.
Obiena caps season with another gold
The victory marked Obiena’s 10th win of the 2026 season and added another continental title to his resume. He also holds the Asian pole vault record of 6.00 meters.
China’s Jie Yao won the silver after clearing 5.70 meters, while Li settled for bronze after the two Chinese vaulters were separated by countback.
Obiena’s gold gave the Philippines its third gold medal in the Aichi-Nagoya Games, joining two-time gold medalist Carlos Yulo.
He was also the third Filipino athletics medalist in the Games, following John Tolentino’s bronze in the men’s 110-meter hurdles and Victoria Bossong’s bronze in the women’s 800 meters.
