ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN — Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena continued his stellar run on the international stage, clinching the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships on Saturday night, February 7, 2026.
Obiena not only secured the top spot on the podium but also shattered his own continental record, further cementing his status as Asia’s premier pole vaulter and a top global contender.
Record-Breaking Performance The world No. 2 vaulter dominated the field with a commanding performance:
- The Winning Mark: Obiena cleared 5.95 meters on his second attempt to secure the gold, surpassing his previous Asian indoor record of 5.93 meters set in Berlin.
- Attempting Six Meters: After clinching the title, Obiena attempted to clear the elusive 6.03-meter mark to break his personal outdoor best, but ultimately fell short in three attempts.
- The Competition: Obiena finished well ahead of the silver medalist, Hussain Al-Hizam of Saudi Arabia, and China’s Huang Bokai, who took the bronze.
Building Momentum for 2026 The victory in Kazakhstan serves as a vital tune-up for Obiena’s 2026 campaign, which includes the World Athletics Indoor Championships and the outdoor season’s Diamond League circuit.
- Consistency: Obiena has now cleared 5.90 meters or higher in his last four indoor competitions, demonstrating remarkable consistency early in the year.
- Coaching and Training: Following the win, Obiena credited his longtime coach Vitaly Petrov and his support team in Formia, Italy, for his technical adjustments during the winter season.
National Pride The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) hailed Obiena’s victory as a “triumph of Filipino resilience and excellence.” Obiena remains the Philippines’ brightest hope for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as he continues to close the gap with world record holder Armand Duplantis.
With this latest Asian title, Obiena heads back to his training base in Europe to prepare for the upcoming indoor meets in France and Poland, carrying the momentum of a new continental record and a gold medal for the Philippines.