Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena soared to gold and rewrote the Asian Games record after clearing 5.91 meters in the men’s pole vault competition Tuesday at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan.
Obiena dominated the 12-man field, becoming the only vaulter to clear 5.75 meters and successfully defending the gold medal he won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
With the competition already down to Obiena alone, the 30-year-old Filipino cleared 5.91 meters on his first attempt to smash the previous Asian Games record of 5.90 meters.
The feat also matched Obiena’s season-best mark, which he posted at the Golden Sand Meet in Poland.
Obiena, the reigning Asian record holder at 6.00 meters, then secured his second straight Asian Games gold and his first continental title.
China’s Yao Jie settled for silver after clearing 5.70 meters, while compatriot Li Chenyang took bronze after clearing the same height but losing out on countback.
Obiena’s victory delivered the Philippines’ third gold medal of the Asian Games, following Carlos Yulo’s triumphs in the men’s gymnastics floor exercise and vault events.
(Photo Courtesy: POC – Philippine Olympic Committee – Olympic.PH)
