A POCKET tournament in Taiwan will get Ernest John Obiena’s road to recovery started.
This is what is in store for the 22-year-old Obiena, who just recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury the day before he was to compete in the 29th Southeast Asian Games last August.
“After we get a go-signal na galing sa doctor, our plan is to compete in small tournaments para maibalik ang confidence niya sa paglalaro,” said EJ’s dad Emerson.
A day before he was to go to Kuala Lumpur, the young Obiena hurt his knee after making a wrong landing during his final workout.
Obiena was supposed to defend his men’s pole vault crown in the SEAG, where he had a personal-best record of 5.61 meters.
Emerson said the tournament will start in March and the presence of a lot of competitive pole vaulters will make the meet interesting.
“There are regular competitors from the United States, Europe, Australia and Japan there. Lots of potentials in the championship,” added Emerson.
In his quest to meet the the pole vault Olympic standard of 5.70m, Obiena broke the national men’s record for the 10th time last July with a leap of 5.61 meters at the Stabhochsprung Classic, in Leberkusen, Germany, smashing the national record of 5.55 meters.
The PH mark was made by Obiena himself during the last UAAP Athletics Championships of Season 79.
Obiena cleared the height in just his first attempt and wound up 4th at the end of the competition behind winner Menno Vloon of the Netherlands.
Shawn Barber from Canada placed 2nd, while Arnaud Art of Belgium was 3rd.