World no. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has resolved his financial situation involving his coach Vitaly Petrov and his support group.
A weeklong visit to the Philippines and talks with the Philippine Sports Commission and officials of the Philippine Athletic Track and Field Association have given the 27-year-old Obiena a chance put his financial problems out of the way.
“I’m fulfilling some commitments that I actually promised at some time. I need to talk and coordinate with the PSC and the PATAFA,” said Obiena, who is continuously training at the Philsports oval in Pasig, while in the country.
Dinner with PATAFA president Terry Capistrano and Kho on Monday gave Obiena a chance to strengthen ties with the association’s leadership.
Obiena, who arrived in the country last Saturday, is receiving payment of more than P7 million from the PSC following a visit with PSC chairman Richard Bachmann.
The amount will cover unpaid financial assistance in 2022 for his coach Vitaly Petrov, and his two physiologists.
Obiena finished his indoor season with a 10th-place finish in the Meeting Hautes-de-France Pas-de-Calais on Thursday last week at Arena Stade Couvert de Liévin in France. He missed the height of 5.82 meters on three tries.
At the moment, Obiena seeks to help an organizer in a street pole vault tournament in the Philippines with the world’s top pole vaulters, whom he has invited.
So far, world no. 2 Chris Nilsen and world no. 4 Thiago Braz have agreed to come, while no. 1 Armand Duplantis has not given his nod yet.
Obiena has discussed the presence of Nilsen and Braz in the meet, with Capistrano and Bachmann.