Logistical, financial woes bar Obiena from Asian Indoor competition
By Joie Frances Timbas
The highest ranked Asian pole vaulter EJ Obiena is set to miss the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.
In a Facebook post, the World №3 pole vault athlete cited the first reason for his absence in the competition: a logistical issue wherein his poles cannot be delivered to Kazakhstan before the event on Feb. 10 to 12.
“Despite huge efforts from everyone including my federation (PATAFA) and Mr. Capistrano, we are simply unable to get my poles to Kazakhstan. None of the airlines serving Astana will bring the poles,” Obiena wrote in his post.
Like Obiena, other Asian pole vaulters suffered the same situation as they too have pulled out for the same reason.
“It’s a sad state when the best vaulters in Asia are excluded from competing in the biggest indoor championships in Asia,” the pole vaulter added.
But Obiena has another reason for missing out: financial constraints.
Despite the past debacle with the PATAFA being resolved, some conflict remains as his team has not been paid in over a year.
Some members of Obiena’s camp are threatening to leave the team due to payments being caught up in ‘red tape’.
“My team has not been paid now in over a year. Payments are caught up in red tape. Unfortunately, some of my team are now threatening to leave Team Obiena. I cannot blame them,” Obiena said.
Richard Bachmann, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, assured that the PATAFA will be in close coordination to ‘speed things up’ for the 27-year-old pole vaulter’s hindrances to competing.
“I also received communication on this matter from the PATAFA and will continue to speed things up to help their national sports organization and Mr. Obiena,” Bachmann said.
Meanwhile, despite the financial issues, the Filipino Olympian pole vaulter’s performance so far this year has been topnotch.
A total of four indoor tournaments have wrapped up with him finishing on the podium in every single one; three golds, one silver and one bronze.
