By MARK REY MONTEJO
After being cleared from injury, expect a much better performance from Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena when he resumes his outdoor campaign in the Xiamen leg of the Diamond League in China this weekend.
Obiena, 29, tries to boost his points as he aims to return in the final which is set in Zurich, Switzerland in August after missing the finale of last season’s event – no thanks to time constraint and back injury that sidelined him and hampered his bid in the 2024 Paris Games and other big events.
Though injury-free now, the challenge is still daunting for the two-time Olympian as the 11-man field is composed of World No. 1 Armand Duplantis of Sweden, USA’s Sam Kendricks, Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, and Turkey’s Ersu Sasma, to name a few.
But her mom, Jeannette, believes the now well-rested EJ can deliver a stellar showing this time in the indoor season.
“Well, they’re targeting to have a much better height than the indoor of course, kasi sobrang in-season na oras ‘yong indoor, hindi siya nakaka-prepare talaga for the indoor,” said Jeannette during Tuesday’s PSA Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
“So he’s hoping to do a better one, sa nakita naman namin no’ng last training, he’s doing good,” she added.
According to Jeanette, EJ’s outing from the past months was vastly affected by injury and schedule.
“Because ang akala nila, pumasok na sila for the qualifying, but the qualifying for the indoor instead of a year naging September, which is after the Olympics,” Jeanette stressed. “So ‘yong performance nila, di na-carry for the whole time.
After winning a gold off a 5.50-meter leap in a Taiwanese pole vaulting meet earlier this month, EJ flew back here in the country where he set up a training camp – his first-ever on Philippine soil – at Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.
“Preparations and training has been done in the heat of the Philippines,” EJ wrote on his social media post. “It’s time to suit up and join the first leg of [Diamond League] happening next week in Xiamen, China. Let’s get it!”
