EJ Obiena successfully defended his men’s pole vault title at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, clearing 5.91 meters to win gold and set a new Asian Games record.
The Filipino pole vaulter secured his second consecutive Asian Games championship after clearing 5.75 meters, which was already enough to put him beyond the reach of his Chinese rivals. He then raised the bar to 5.91 meters and cleared it on his final attempt.
The new mark improved on Obiena’s previous Asian Games record of 5.90 meters, which he established when he won gold at the Hangzhou Games in 2023. His performance came despite rainy conditions at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
China’s Yao Jie and Li Chenyang both cleared 5.70 meters, with Yao taking silver through countback and Li settling for bronze. Thailand’s Patsapong Amsamarng finished behind the Chinese pair after clearing 5.60 meters.
Obiena entered the competition as the Asian record holder at 6.00 meters and one of the world’s leading pole vaulters. His latest victory added another major achievement to a 2026 season in which he has continued competing at the highest level internationally.
The gold was the Philippines’ third at the 2026 Asian Games, following Carlos Yulo’s victories in gymnastics. The country also collected silver and bronze medals in other events as the continental competition entered its final days.
Obiena’s back-to-back Asian Games titles also place him among the Filipino athletes who have successfully defended their individual championships at the continental level. His latest record-breaking clearance gave the Philippine delegation another gold medal while rewriting the Games record he had set three years earlier.
