Metro Manila, Philippines – Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena ruled the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships held in Tianjin, China, on Saturday evening, Feb. 7.
This was Obiena’s second gold in the 2026 indoor season following a win at the International Jump-Meeting Cottbus in Germany, where he successfully vaulted to the 5.77-meter mark.
Obiena said his victory in the 12th edition of the competition was special as he completed his set of Asian Championship gold medals.
“Records are made to be broken. But victories and titles remain forever. I am proud to bring home this gold to my nation,” he said on Instagram.
“In pole vault, we finally have won every single Asian Championship Gold Medal. Our greatness is on display for all to see,” he added.
Obiena last competed at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in 2016, where he finished fourth.
A decade later, Obiena cleared 5.70 meters on a single attempt to bag his first-ever gold medal in the tournament. He raised the bar to 5.80 meters but was unsuccessful in all three tries.
Chinese bet Li Chenyang followed with a 5.60-meters clearance for the silver, while compatriot Chen Yang copped bronze with 5.40 meters.
Thailand’s Amsamarng Patsapong and Japan’s Ejima Masaki finished fourth and fifth, respectively, after clearing the opening bar of 5.20 meters.
Obiena, currently world no. 11, has cleared 6 meters twice in 2023, setting the Asian standard.
He will compete at the INIT Indoor Meeting Karlsruhen in Germany early Monday morning, Feb. 9 (Philippine time), facing fellow Paris Olympics finalists Menno Vloon and Sondre Guttormsen.
