Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 3) – After delaying his season debut this year, Filipino pole vault sensation EJ Obiena is set to compete in five indoor pole vault tournaments this month.
Obiena on Thursday posted on his Instagram account the competitions that he will participate in.
The 25-year-old pole vaulter will first defend his title in the ISTAF Indoor Athletics Meet in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 4.
Obiena ruled the tournament last year with a leap of 5.80 meters.
The Italy-based Obiena will next compete at the Beijier Pole Vault Gala in Uppsala, Sweden on Feb. 9, where he is expected to face hometown bet and world pole vault record holder Armand Duplantis.
After the Sweden tiff, Obiena will fly to Lodz, Poland for the Orlen Cup on Feb. 11.
It was in the same tournament last year when Obiena broke the national indoor pole vault record after clearing 5.86 meters, good for a silver medal finish.
On Feb. 17, Obiena will showcase his skills at the Meeting Hauts de France in Lievin, France.
Obiena’s last tournament for the month will be the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland on Feb. 22. He bagged a bronze medal in last year’s edition of the tournament.
Obiena was supposed to make his 2022 season debut at the Init Init Indoor Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany last Jan. 28, but he pulled out of the tournament to recover from knee surgery.
RELATED: EJ Obiena completes knee surgery
Obiena will participate in the string of tournaments amid his rift with national athletics governing body Philippine Athletics and Track Field Association, who cut ties with the Filipino pole vaulter last week.
RELATED: EJ Obiena denies not paying Ukrainian coach, threatens to immediately’ retire
