EJ Obiena nonetheless hounded via again problems

There’s extra paintings to be executed for EJ Obiena, in line with his well-known trainer. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

EJ Obiena felt a piercing ache in his again in a meet 4 days in the past which may be a reason of significant fear in long run tournaments.

The Filipino pole vault famous person wasn’t ready to podium once more this weekend on the Bauhaus-Galan in Stockholm, Sweden, a high-profile festival the place the sector’s best possible confirmed up.

During the Oslo Bislett Games Diamond League in Oslo, Norway past due closing week, Obiena wound up with a “No Mark” or “No Height” after pulling his again at the first leap, affecting each next try.

“It is the same general area. He was hurting quite a bit at that moment. We have been assessing it day to day. We do not know,” stated Jim Lafferty, Obiena’s confidante.

The three-time Asian champion who defended his identify within the continental meet two weeks in the past suffered from that in poor health again closing 12 months previous to the Paris Olympics, the place Obiena ended up fourth, slightly lacking out on a medal.

“This is sports sometimes. We will assess over the next few days and see how it progresses,” stated Obiena.

World champion Armand Duplantis, as anticipated, dominated the Oslo meet when Obiena harm his again and was once a dominating power once more on the Bauhaus-Galan with an unequalled 6.28-meter leap, securing his 8th gold medal this 12 months.

Asian document holder

Obiena positioned 7th in Stockholm after clearing 5.70 meters in the back of silver medalist Kurtis Marschall of Australia (5.90m) and third-placer Menno Vloon of the Netherlands (5.80).

Vloom reached the rostrum with lesser makes an attempt reverse any other 5.80m performer in France’s 2012 Olympic gold medalist Renaud Lavillenie, who wound up fourth.

Daniel Keaton of the United States was once 5th and Turkey’s Ersu Sasma 6th. They hurdled the similar top as Obiena, however earned the next score by way of the countback.

“It happens, that’s field events for you. You either make it or you don’t. I’m sure his team will make the necessary adjustments,” stated Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary normal Jasper Tanhueco.

The closing time Obiena had a “no mark” end was once six years in the past all over the 2019 Gugl Indoor Meeting in Linz, Austria.

Obiena, the present Asian Games gold medalist who owns the continental document of six meters, hopes there will probably be no well being obstacles when he sees motion within the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to September 21 and the Southeast Asian Games in December in Thailand. INQ