Unmatched EJ Obiena shatters Asian Games record to defend throne

CHAMPION. Pole vaulter EJ Obiena in action for the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games.

PSC-POC Media Pool

EJ Obiena delivers the Philippines' third gold medal in the 2026 Asian Games as he breaks his own record to repeat as men's pole vault champion

MANILA, Philippines – When it comes to Asia, EJ Obiena is in a league of his own.

And he reinforced that notion as Obiena defended his Asian Games crown following a record-breaking performance in men’s pole vault at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan on Tuesday, September 29.

Obiena set a new Asian Games mark after clearing 5.91 meters in a single attempt, delivering the Philippines’ third gold medal in this edition after gymnastics star Carlos Yulo won the first two in artistic gymnastics.

He shattered his own record of 5.90m, which Obiena set in 2023 when he won his first Asian Games title in Hangzhou, China.

After two failed attempts at 5.80m, Obiena upped the ante by going for 5.91m, which he surpassed with room to spare on the way to becoming the first back-to-back champion in the event since Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich won in 1994 and 1998. 

It marked the first time Obiena cleared over 5.90m since he posted 5.97m in ruling the Irena Szewinska Memorial in 2024. 

Two Chinese bets completed the podium, with Yao Jie and Li Chenyang bagging silver and bronze, respectively, with 5.70m clearances.

Obiena highlighted the Philippines’ best athletics showing in decades, with the country also bagging a pair of bronze courtesy of John Cabang Tolentino (men’s 110m hurdles) and Victoria Bossong (women’s 800m). – Rappler.com