EJ Obiena aims to defend his title when he flies to Pattaya, Thailand to see action in the Asian Athletics Championships set from 12 to 16 July.
In a radio interview, Obiena said he is determined to reassert his dominance in Asia so he opted to compete in the Asian Championships instead of the Silesia Diamond League in Poland, which will open on 16 July.
Joining the Silesia Diamond League would help Obiena earn more points that will boost his bid to become one of the six pole vaulters who will compete in the Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon from 16 to 17 September.
An Asian crown is something that Obiena has been chasing.
After all, he is determined to dominate the Asian Championships as a warmup for the Asian Games, where he posted only 5.30 meters for a seventh-place finish when it was held in Jakarta in 2018.
“It’s going to be challenging because of the scheduling of the competition and it’s going to be tougher. That’s why I’m giving myself the best opportunity to perform well in the Asian Championships while missing a Diamond League leg ahead of it,” said Obiena, who will be arriving in Bangkok on 14 July via Thai Airways together with his coach, Vitaly Petrov, and physiotherapist, Antonio Guglietta.
“My ranking is very important to me which would greatly help if I compete in the Diamond League circuit but the Asian Championships is very important for the country and I need to do it.”
Obiena reiterated that the entire country is banking on him to win the Asian Championships.
“This is something I am lucky enough to do: To represent the flag. Therefore, I should be able to compete in a regional championship and that’s the plan,” Obiena said.
Obiena, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, said he is looking to surpass the 5.71 meters that he set when he ruled the event in Doha in 2019.
He, however, stressed that although he had already punched a ticket to the Paris Olympics, his goal is to dominate the coming tourneys, including the Asian Championships and the Asian Games.
“Not yet, it’s (Paris) still quite far. There are still a lot of things that need my focus on. I think the most important thing is the three championships this year,” Obiena said.
“Those championships would matter big time and they are my current focus.”
