EJ Obiena is ready to defend his crown.
The Philippines’ pole vault star goes for his second straight Asian Games gold on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 5:20 PM (Manila time) at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, the Manila Times reported.
He will face 11 other pole vaulters.
“One more for this season,” Obiena wrote on his social media pages on Monday, according to the Manila Times.
“Asian Games tomorrow at 18:20 local time.”
The Manila Times reported that the Asiad appears to be Obiena’s last tournament of the season.
“He’s Ready”
Manila Bulletin reported that the pressure is on Obiena to deliver one of the eight gold medals projected for Team Philippines at the Games.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Secretary-General Jasper Tanhueco said Obiena is confident about defending the title he won in Hangzhou three years ago.
“He’s been here since September 20, so everybody is hoping and praying he will deliver his best form,” Tanhueco said, according to Manila Bulletin.
“And he’s ready.”
His mother, Jeanette Uy Obiena, also told Manila Bulletin before the Games that her son is in a better place.
“Unlike at the Paris Games, EJ, I think is physically and mentally ready now, and very happy,” she said.
“He did well in his past tournaments so I think he will also do good in Nagoya.”
The Numbers
Obiena won gold in Hangzhou with a 5.90-meter clearance, a height he has reached twice this year, Manila Bulletin reported.
His season best is 5.91 meters, which won him gold at the Golden Sand Meet in Mi?dzyzdroje, Poland, on Aug. 17.
He also holds the Asian record of 6.0 meters, according to the Manila Times.
Manila Bulletin reported that Obiena has won nine gold medals this year and has consistently cleared 5.80 meters this season.
He is now coached by Poland’s Marcin Szczepanski.
Back From a Tough Year
The strong season comes after a difficult 2025, when Obiena dropped from as high as world No. 2 to No. 16, Manila Bulletin reported.
His lumbar spine and nerve injury issues are now “almost resolved,” according to the report.
The one thing he can’t control is the weather: Nagoya has had a stretch of rainy days, Manila Bulletin noted.
