EJ Obiena’s win at the Asian Athletics Championships last Sunday in Pattaya, Thailand was extra-special.
Obiena shared the podium with training partners Hussain Asim Alhizam of Saudi Arabia, who came in second with 5.56m, while Huang Bokai of China made the podium with 5.51m.
The medalists of the men’s pole vault all have one thing in common.
All of them are training under legendary Ukrainian mentor Vitaly Petrov, famous for his role in the exemplary career of Sergey Bubka.
For Obiena, who set a new Asian Athletics Championships record of 5.91 meters, this is something he will definitely not forget as he shared the victory with his pole vault brothers.
“The brotherhood and camaraderie is there. I’m not gonna be who I am without training with these guys,” Obiena said in a virtual press conference late Monday.
With Obiena missing out the Silesia Diamond League for the Asian Championships, he hopes he will be able to catch up in the Monaco Diamond League on 21 July at the Stade Louis-II in Fontvieille, Monaco.
Currently, Obiena is tied at second place in the Diamond League with Chris Nilsen of the United States with 13 points.
The Tondo, Manila native is also excited to represent the Philippines in World Athletics Championships in Budapest from 19 to 27 August alongside Robyn Brown, who won the women’s 4x400m in the Asian tilt.
“It’s the last competition before the world championships. Hopefully, I’ll get a higher place on the podium,” Obiena said.
“I think it feels good. It feels great that I’m not gonna be the only one going to the worlds.”
