Pole vault champ EJ Obiena wins back-to-back Asian Games golds, sets new games record

The Philippines’ EJ Obiena remained the gold standard in the continent as he ruled the men’s pole vault competition at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday at the rain-soaked Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Japan.

The 30-year-old Filipino star was the only athlete in the 12-man field to clear 5.75m, successfully defending the gold medal he won at the 2023 Asian Games in China, where he also shattered the long-standing Asiad record en route to his maiden continental title.

But Obiena, who also owns the Asian record of 6.00m, was not done yet.

With all his competitors already out, Obiena cleared 5.91m on the first attempt to set a new Asian Games record, eclipsing his previous mark of 5.90m that he established in the previous edition.

It was the third gold medal for the Philippines in the Asiad following Carlos Yulo's two gold medals in floor exercise and vault events of the men's gymnastics.

China's Yao Jie captured the silver with a 5.70m clearance while another Chinese bet Li Chenyang also cleared the same height but settled for the bronze due to countback.

Obiena’s latest feat allowed the world No. 11 Filipino to match his season-best of 5.91 meters, which he also cleared at the Golden Sand Meet in Poland.

The victory also added to Obiena’s growing collection of continental and regional accolades, which includes three gold medals and one bronze at the Asian Championships, as well as four consecutive gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News