Obiena seeks third Asian Athletics gold, needs hard work

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena aims to win his third consecutive gold medal at the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships. He acknowledges the need for hard work to reset his own championship record. Obiena, the defending champion, faces pressure to perform well in Gumi, South Korea, from May 27-31. He has yet to surpass his 5.91-meter record set in 2023, with his season best being 5.80 meters. Obiena, currently ranked fourth in the world, will compete against strong rivals from China, Qatar, and Japan. He recently won the Patafa Philippine Pole Vault Open Championships.