ALREADY assured of a spot in next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena said he is now channelling his focus on having a solid campaign at the 30th Southeast Asian Games, which the country is hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
Currently the holder of the 10th best cleared height of 5.81 meters, Mr. Obiena, 23, said he recognizes that he is touted as the favorite to win gold in the biennial regional sporting meet but is not getting ahead of himself and vowed to put in the needed work.
“I may have the slight edge but it’s a competition. Anything can happen. Hopefully I can be the one standing on top of the podium holding the Philippine flag,” said Mr. Obiena during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at the Amelie Hotel Manila on Tuesday.
“What I can do is do what I can. I will do my best to win the SEA Games gold. It’s our home country. It’s going to be a shame if I lose and I know that,” he added.
Mr. Obiena is looking to dislodge Thailand’s Porranot Purahon as the reigning champion of the event, scheduled to be held on Dec. 7 at the New Clark City. Mr. Purahon cleared 5.35 meters to win gold at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia.
In the last edition of the SEA Games Mr. Obiena was not able to compete after suffering an ACL injury in the lead-up.
Mr. Obiena was the first to qualify for Tokyo 2020 by making the cut in a qualifying tournament in Chiara, Italy, early last month where he notched his current best 5.81 meters.
He was joined on Tuesday by gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo as the two Filipinos so far to qualify for the Olympics next year. Mr. Yulo qualified by doing well at the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
