Ernest John “EJ” Obiena grabbed the Philippines’ lone gold medal on Saturday evening in the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships competition at the Gumi Civic Stadium in South Korea.
It was Obiena’s third straight gold when he cleared 5.77 meters on his first attempt.
The 29-year-old Obiena outperformed training partner Huang Bokai of China in a jump-off, allowing him to keep the titles he won in 2019 and 2023.
“Three-peat Asian Champion!!!,” wrote Obiena on Instagram.
The world no. 4 Obiena challenged Huan after they became the last two vaulters in contention for the crown.
They both hurdled 5.72m on a single attempt.
Thailand’s Patsapong Amsamarng bagged the bronze with a personal-best 5.67m.
Hokett delos Santos finished 13th out of 15 finalists with a 4.97m clearance.
Meanwhile, Robyn Brown settled for fifth place at 56.98 seconds in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, with China’s Mo Jiadie getting the gold at 55.31 seconds. Oluwakanei Mujidat of Brunei ranked second (55.32) and Virthya Ramraj of India was third (56.46).
Kristina Knott took sixth spot in the women’s 200-meter finals at 23.82 seconds, with Chen Yu Jie taking the gold at 22.97 seconds, and Singapore’s Veronica Pereira was second at 22.98. Li Yuting of China placed third (23.23 seconds).
Bernalyn Bejoy placed seventh in the women’s 800 meters, clocking 2:07.53, with Wu Hongjiap of China snaring the gold in 2:00.08. Rin Kuho of Japan took second (2:00.42) and Pooja of India placed in third (2:01.89). Peter Atencio
