EJ Obiena is becoming bolder and bolder following his landmark jump in Italy early this month that earned him a spot in the pole vault competitions in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Still basking in the glory of his 5.81 jump, Obiena, 23, is competing in the World IAAF Championships this week in Doha, Qatar, where he is attempting to raise the bar anew.
“My Immediate target is to get in the final then when youre in the final,” said Obiena, who turns 24 in November.
Obiena insists that gaining a finals slot is a potential game changer since it’s a free-for-all.
In the event Obiena makes the final cut, the UST student swears he will be “shooting for the podium.”
This year alone, Obiena has been consistently improving and seeing his record get reset ”is a possibility.”
“But I don’t think about it before the competition as i take things one bar at a time.”
The Doha worlds could be the final tournament for Obiena before he leads the Philippine campaign during the 30th Southeast Asian Games this November until early December although he is also seeing action during a pre-SEAG event here.
If Obiena finds the facilities at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, to his liking – which is a big possibility – given its ultra-modern feel and look, the 6-2 leaper will remain until the SEAG formally gets off the ground.
But if it doesn’t, Obiena will head back to his training camp in Italy to resume his buildup.
Obiena is one of the country’s rising stars in sports and it is believed that he has what it takes to blossom into a global force in time for next year’s big event in Tokyo Olympics. (Nick Giongco)
