The Philippines’ pole vault star athlete Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is defending his Orlen Copernicus Cup title against world champions and Olympians gathering tonight in Torun, Poland for the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold.
The World No. 3 pole vaulter won the Copernicus Cup last year as the only competitor in a field of 11 champions to clear the height of 5.81 meters. The February 8, 2023 (February 9 Philippine Time) athletics competition will again pit Obiena against 10 other champions including two-time Olympic medalist Thiago Braz of Brazil and Polish star Piotr Lisek.
EJ Obiena is aiming for his 3rd gold and 5th medal coming off a great season start with four medals in as many tournaments since January, including the Orlen Cup Lodz gold, another gold from the Perche en Or in France, a silver finish at the International Springer Meeting in Germany, and a bronze win at the Mondo Classic in Sweden.
Obiena is the Asian Indoor Record-holder. However, the pride of Tondo in Manila is forced to forego participating in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship to be held in Kazakhstan this weekend because of transport concerns for his poles and his ongoing financial difficulties due to delays in the expected financial support from the Philippine government.
Asian Record-holder in Men's Pole Vault EJ Obiena today addressed his supporters in a social media post saying he can't join the Asian Indoor Athletics tilt this weekend due to transport concerns about his poles and delay in gov't financial support https://t.co/63yTbRPjFd pic.twitter.com/9GOOEI1Hpz
— Angie Quadra-Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) February 8, 2023
SEND WELL WISHES & WATCH EJ Obiena compete to defend his Copernicus Cup title for the Philippines here:
The Philippines' EJ Obiena @ejobiena is set to defend his @CopernicusCup championship title against 10 of the world's best pole vaulters gathered in Torun, Poland tonight FULL STORY ON @GoodNewsPinas_ WATCH LIVE here https://t.co/iIyLGDpoV4 pic.twitter.com/pcuXK7fg0a
— Angie Quadra-Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) February 8, 2023
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