Ernest John Obiena, in action here last year in Europe. —PHOTO COURTESY OF ERNEST OBIENA’S FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines—Philippines’ top pole vaulter EJ Obiena pulled out of the Init Indoor Meeting after missing out on several training days, his advisor Jim Lafferty said Thursday.
Lafferty added that both Obiena and his coach Vitaly Petrov decided on not taking part in the competition that will be held in Karlsruhe, Germany.
“He has indeed withdrawn. It was finalized yesterday between EJ and Vitaly Petrov his coach. The knee feels fine. That’s not the issue. He simply lost too many training days and his timing is off. This leads to inconsistency,” Lafferty told the Inquirer via an email message. “Sometimes he is ‘on’ and sometimes ‘off.’”
In an Instagram Storu, Obiena also responded to a query about his participation in the meet.
“I’m sorry, I need to move my season opener a few days back,” said Obiena. “I’ll be back! I promise!”
Obiena recently had surgery to repair a meniscus tear in is left knee leading to lapses in his training.
There’s also Obiena’s off-field feud with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and its president Philip Ella Juico.
Lafferty said Obiena could make his 2022 season debut in February in Berlin.
“Vitaly feels he has another week before he nails his timing for a full 18-step approach. So his first meet is now Berlin next weekend on February 4 or 5,” said Lafferty.
Obeina is also reworking his scheduled after the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship got suspended due to the riots in Almaty, Kazakhstan due to rise in fuel prices.
The Asian Indoor Championships was pushed to February 2023.
“His schedule is being reworked as the Asian Indoors have been suspended due to instability of security in Almaty, Kazakhstan due to the rioting and public disturbances widely covered in the press. That was obviously a huge focus competition for EJ. We are working a revised schedule around the world indoor championships which are in March,” said Lafferty.