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Friday, March 29, 2024

Flag-bearing duty excites Asia’s top pole vaulter

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Hanoi—Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Asia’s top pole vaulter and Filipino pride Ernest John Obiena will finally assume the duty of flag bearer for Team Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games, a role he was supposed to do, but eventually let go during the Tokyo Olympics.

The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena competes during the indoor men’s pole vault Beijer gala event in Uppsala, Sweden. Obiena, the top pole vaulter in Asia and the world’s no. 6, is one of the athletes to watch out for in the Southeast Asian Games, that officially opens in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Thursday after a six-month Covid delay with regional pride up for grabs. AFP

Obiena arrived in Hanoi from Formia, Italy on Wednesday, just in time for the opening ceremonies on Thursday at the My Dinh National Stadium of the 31st edition of these games.

The 26-year-old Obiena, the world’s sixth best pole vaulter but Asia’s best with a World Athletics score of 1374, was nominated Team Philippines’ flag-bearer, together with Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, but the superstar weightlifter decided it should be athletics’ pride.

“It’s a bigger honor kasi because ate Hidi (Diaz said it should be me,” said an excited Obiena upon arrival at the Noi Bai International Airport.

Obiena was supposed to be Team Philippines’ Tokyo games flag-bearer, but had to step down from the honor as his arrival schedule posed a conflict to the guidelines set by the organizing committee, which said flag bearers must be in Tokyo 48 hours before the opening ceremonies. Obiena’s arrival was on the day of the opening rites.

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Flag-bearing duties are reserved for the best athlete/s of a country and Obiena’s appointment in the SEA Games is a validation of his vast accomplishments in the sport as a world-class athlete.

That is why Obiena would be shooting for no less than the gold medal in the pole vault, where he is the overwhelming favorite with his personal best and Philippine record of 5.91 meters, achieved during the Meeting de Paris at the Stade Charlety, Paris on Aug. 28 last year. This is nearly half a meter higher than the SEA Games record of 5.45 meters he himself set in winning the gold during the Philippine SEA Games in 2019.

“I’m representing athletes competing in the SEA Games, but also 109 million Filipinos back home,” said Obiena in vowing to make his countrymen proud.

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