Obiena banners Philippine contingent in World Athletics Indoor Championships

The Philippines’s Ernest John Obiena competes in the men’s pole vault event during the Shanghai/Keqiao Diamond League athletics meeting in Keqiao, Shaoxing in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on May 3, 2025.

Pedro Pardo / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena is pumped for the opportunity to lead Team Philippines in the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze later this month.

The two-time Olympic pole vaulter and fellow Olympic hurdler John Cabang Tolentino will lead the Filipinos in the tournament set on March 20-22.

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association announced on Thursday that Obiena and Tolentino, as well as Jessica Laurance (60 meter) and Zion Corrales Nelson (60 meter), will compete in the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

In an Instagram post early Friday, Obiena voiced excitement in flying the flag in the world indoor championships.

“We made the World Indoor Championship!!! Last year I missed, didn’t make the cut, grade or whatever is synonymous with ‘failing to qualify.’ That was a tough shake,” he posted on his social media page.

“I said I would bounce back time and time again but it didn’t exactly work out that outdoor season,” he added.

Obiena had an up-and-down season last year, as he came fresh from an injury.

“Still today, it still doesn’t feel like anywhere near where I want to be or believe I can be. Making this world indoors championship, one of the twelve vaulters, is a small step to a long road back,” he said.

“Brick by brick, inch by inch we build and if I must crawl so be it!!!”

Obiena recently ruled the ISTAF Indoor 2006 in Berlin.

He has won three total championships thus far this year and made the podium in five tourneys.