AFTER SLIDING out from the World’s top 10 in 2025, Filipino pole vault star and Thomasian sports icon EJ Obiena kicked off his 2026 campaign with a podium finish at the 6th ISTAF Indoor Düsseldorf.
Obiena claimed the bronze medal after clearing 5.65 meters at the PSD Bank Dome in Germany on Sunday morning (Manila time), signaling a promising start to what he has described as his “redemption season.”
The former world No. 2 needed just one attempt to clear 5.65m but failed to hurdle the 5.70m bar in three tries, ending his bid for a gold finish in the eight-man competition.
Dutch vaulter Menno Vloon secured the gold with a 5.75m clearance, while two-time Olympic medalist American Sam Kendricks took silver after clearing 5.70m.
Following his Düsseldorf outing, Obiena shared a highlight reel of his bronze-medal performance on Instagram, set to Roselle Nava’s 90’s OPM hit “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita.”
“Using Filipino love songs on competition videos to drown out my confusion,” Obiena said.
“Indoor season officially started. Came away with a bronze here @istaf_indoor.” F
