EJ Obiena, the acclaimed pole-vaulting athlete from the Philippines, secured victory in the Orlen Copernicus Cup on Wednesday, channeling his disappointment over missing the notable Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Vaulting to victory, the athlete ranked third in the world and a recipient of a bronze medal in the World Championship, cleared 5.87 meters, earning his third gold medal of the season and securing his fifth consecutive spot on the podium this year.
The holder of the Asian record outperformed Dutch athlete Rutger Koppelaar and Belgian competitor Ben Broeders, who both received silver and bronze medals, respectively, after clearing an identical height of 5.82 meters.
Obiena commented, “I’m taking it one day at a time.” The athlete had previously vented his frustrations on social media regarding his team’s alleged unpaid salaries for a year and his inability to attend the Astana meet due to logistical issues related to his poles.
After speaking with Obiena, the chair of the Philippine Sports Commission, Richard Bachmann, has pledged to address the issue. Despite this, Obiena has resolved to persist for the time being.
“I need to focus on recovering and taking the necessary rest for now. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me. We’re not giving up,” Obiena declared.
