PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is convinced EJ Obiena is a cinch to win a medal in next year’s Paris Olympics.
“He’s making sure he’ll get there,” Tolentino said yesterday, a day after Obiena cleared 6.0 meters for the second time this year to finish with a silver medal in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
“It’s not only skills and physicality that’s gone elite on EJ, but his focus and mental approach to his sport,” Tolentino added.
Only Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis stood on Obiena’s way for the gold medal.
The Swede won a second consecutive world championship title after clearing 6.10 meters, with Obiena providing Duplantis a tough challenge–the Asian record holder attempted 6.05m and even 6.10m, proof of his warrior-attitude on the field.
“It’s a year to go before Paris, one full year for EJ to get better and better,” Tolentino said.
“He’ll have plenty of time to focus on setting the bar higher, and qualifying for Paris won’t be one of his challenges anymore, he’s in.”
Obiena almost went perfect in the current the season by making the podium in 19 of 20 indoor and outdoor competitions he participated in.
Obiena, the Asian and Southeast Asian Games champion, has also already beaten Duplantis, doing it in the Diamond League’s leg in September last year in Brussels where he won the gold with a jump of 5.91 meters, with Duplantis settling for the silver after clearing only 5.81m.
Obiena also bagged the silver at the Monaco Diamond League last July 23 where Duplantis settled for fourth place.
Next up for Obiena, who was 11th among the 12 finalists in his Olympic debut in Tokyo, are the Asian Games next month in Hangzhou. Wit no Asian pole vaulter approximating his numbers, Tolentino said he’s a cinch there, too.
Tolentino is hoping more Filipino athletes would to earn tickets to Paris in the Olympic qualifying window that ends June 30 next year.
