It’s a shame to lose here – EJ Obiena

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2019 08:52:17 +0000

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, the first Filipino athlete to book a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is not looking too far ahead considering that there’s the 30th SEA Games scheduled in December.

EJ Obiena (MB photo)

The 23-year-old Obiena said qualifying to the Summer Games is “more of a dream coming true.”

But he said during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Amelie Hotel Manila that his eyes are on the coming SEA Games, which the country is hosting for the fourth time in history.

With a current best of 5.81 meters, which is ranked 10th in the world, the 6-foot-2 pole vaulter should be the favorite to win the gold in the SEA Games, where Thailand’s Porranot Purahon is the reigning champion, with an effort of 5.35 meters in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.

“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 Obiena during the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel and Pagcor.

Obiena is fully aware that in each competition, the bar is raised, and he expects higher marks in the coming SEA Games. The pole vault competition is set Dec. 7 a
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