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PATAFA, PSC commend Obiena for breaking Asian pole vault record

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Philippines" Ernest="" John="" Obiena="" in="" action="" during="" the="" pole="" vault.="" Benoit="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/29/20210829-ej-obiena-paris-rtr.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Philippines&#x27; Ernest John Obiena in action during the men&#x27;s pole vault.<em> Benoit Tessier, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Sunday celebrated the latest record-breaking feat of Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena.</p><p>The 25-year-old Obiena reset the national and Asian record at the 2021 Golden Roof Challenge in Austria (Sunday in Manila), clearing 5.93 meters to win the competition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/12/21/ej-obiena-sets-new-asian-record-in-austria-tilt">EJ Obiena sets new Asian record in Austria tilt</a></li></ul><p>It was already the second time in two weeks that Obiena reset his personal best, having cleared 5.91-m in the Paris leg of the Wanda Diamond League last August 28.</p><p>&quot;Congratulations Ernest Obiena, for setting an Asian record of 5.93 meters and winning the gold medal at the 17th International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria,&quot; the PSC said on social media.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/PhlSportsCommission/posts/4546563665366905" data-width="auto"> </div><p>The previous Asian record was 5.92-m, set by Kazakhstan&#x27;s Igor Potapivich in 1992.</p><p>PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico hailed the &quot;technical adjustments&quot; made by Obiena&#x27;s coach, pole vault icon Vitaly Petrov, and executed by the athlete.</p><p>&quot;Even minor and subtle adjustments, unnoticed by ordinary laymen like us, can become a game-changer and turning point at the highest level of a very technical and dangerous event like pole vault,&quot; Juico said.</p><p>&quot;These changes make a big difference… You can only depend on yourself and on no one else&#x27;s execution of that person&#x27;s role, as is the case in team sports,&quot; he added. &quot;We believe Obiena is working towards consistency in his performance.&quot;</p><p>On his Instagram account, Obiena said he was &quot;feeling grateful&quot; after a &quot;crazy night&quot; which saw him breach the 5.90-m mark for the second time.</p><p>&quot;I fought for every centimeter of that,&quot; added Obiena, who placed 11th overall in the Tokyo Olympics.</p><p>Obiena is already en route to Berlin, Germany, where he will compete in the Internationales Stadionfest.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1772346" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

PATAFA and the Philippine Sports Commission on Sunday celebrated the latest record-breaking feat of Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena.