FILE – Pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena. —MariaNNE BERMUDEZ.
HANOI – Despite all the contingencies that may arise, Asia’s top track and field athlete EJ Obiena will finally take on the duty of flag bearer for the Philippines at the 31st Southeast Asian Games, a role which he had to do but ended up being missed in the Tokyo Olympics.
Obiena arrived in Hanoi from Formia, Italy on Wednesday, just in time for Thursday’s opening ceremony at My Dinh National Stadium for the 31st edition of these matches.
26-year-old Obiena, the sixth best pole vaulter in the world but the best in Asia with a score of 1374 in World Athletics, was nominated as the flag bearer of Team Philippines, along with the gold medalist. Olympic Hidilyn Diaz, but the weightlifting superstar decided it should be the pride of athletics.
“It was a greater honor to have eaten Hidi (Diaz) said it had to be me,” said Obiena excitedly upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport.
Obiena was supposed to be the flag bearer in Team Philippines’ Tokyo match but had to give up his honor because his arrival schedule conflicts with guidelines set forth by the organizers, which states that flag bearers must be in Tokyo 48 hours before the opening ceremony. Obiena arrived on the day of the opening ceremony.
The duty of carrying the flag is reserved for the best athletes of a country and Obiena’s appointment at the SEA Games is a testament to his immense achievements in the sport as a member of the team. World class athletes.
That’s why Obiena will shoot as well as a gold medal in the vault where he is overwhelming favorite with his personal best and the Philippines record of 5.91 metres, achieved during the meeting de Paris at Stade Charlety, Paris on August 28 of last year. This figure is nearly half a meter higher than the SEA Games record of 5.45 meters that he himself set when he won gold at the 2019 SEA Games of the Philippines.
“I represent the athletes competing in the SEA Games, but also the 100 million Filipinos back home,” said Obiena.
The sports competitions at the SEA Games, with the theme “For a stronger Southeast Asia”, are taking place in Hanoi and 11 neighboring localities until May 23.
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