EJ Obiena wins gold at Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. June Navarro/INQUIRER
Ernest John Obiena is now the second best pole vaulter in the world.
Obiena moved up to second overall in the world rankings with a score of 1432, overtaking Christopher Nilsen of the United States (1428).
The Filipino pole vault idol recently ruled his event at the 25th Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, in record fashion.
“Thank you to everyone who made this possible, and my deepest gratitude to those who went to war, so that I could continue this dream,’’ said Obiena, who holds the Asian record of six meters and is the first Filipino qualifier to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
World champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden remains on top with 1569 points.