EJ Obiena Retains Title and Resets SEA Games Pole Vault Record

EJ Obiena, a Pinoy Olympian, reasserted his dominance in the Southeast Asian Games by setting a new record in Hanoi, Vietnam’s men’s pole vault. Obiena won the gold medal in the Hanoi Games, setting a new SEA Games record of 5.46 meters, eclipsing his previous best (5.45 meters) in the biennial competition.

As the clock struck midnight Saturday, a campaign started swimmingly and grabbed additional gold medals before daybreak experienced some stunning defeats as the day progressed.

At Saturday’s 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Tokyo Olympian. And reigning Asian record holder demonstrated his worth by maintaining his pole vault title and creating a new meet record at My Dinh National Stadium.

EJ Obiena said:

“The conditions were tough [and] too many [of my competitors] were cramping,” “However, I didn’t get cramps, so that’s a plus.”

Obiena won his second straight SEA Games gold medal with a 5.40-meter leap on his first try. Obiena went for the meet record after talking with his father and clinched it in one attempt. He ran 5.46 meters, beating his previous best of 5.45 meters in 2019.

“To be honest, I’m relieved and thrilled,” said Obiena, whose performance erased. Months of negative publicity stemming from his feud with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association on liquidation issues.

Medal Titles

Two gold medals in kickboxing added to Team Philippines. While triathlon kept its men’s and women’s titles to keep the medal machine running. Gina Iniong-Araos, 32, crushed Jaiteang Warapron of Thailand to win kickboxing’s women’s low-kick 60-kilogram gold medal. She was motivates by the urge to silence critics who doubted her capacity. To participate because she chose to raise a family while juggling a busy martial arts career.

“People who suggest I should resign and just focus on taking care of my child have become a challenge for me,” Araos added in Filipino.

In the men’s 63-kg low kick, Jean Claude Saclag defeated another Thai, Chaleamlap Santidongsakum, for the other kickboxing gold.

However, Fernando Casares and Kim Mangrobang of the Philippines stamped their class. In the men’s and women’s triathlons, which the country has dominated for two years.