Nasungkit ng Filipino Olympian at pole vaulter na si EJ Obiena ang unang ginto ng Pilipinas sa 19th Asian Games sa Hangzhou, China.
Nag-iisang nalampasan ni Obiena sa vault finals ang 5.75 meter mark sa kanyang ikalawang subok.
Pagkatapos ay na-clear niya ang 5.90 metro sa isang subok lang, na lalong nagpatibay sa kanyang gintong medalya.
Ito ang kauna-unahang Asian Games athletics gold medal para sa bansa mula noong 1986, at ang unang medalya mula noong 1994. Ngunit higit pa riyan, sinabi ng sport psychologist ni Obiena na ang tagumpay na ito ay maaaring bumasag ng psychological barrier na pumipigil sa natitirang bahagi ng Team Philippines.
“Jumping in front of a thunderous-synchronized claps of 80,000 people in a breathtakingly beautiful Hangzhou Stadium was more than enough to blow my mind and unquestionably register a core memory,” mababasa sa Facebook post ni EJ.
“What a privilege it was to deliver the country’s first gold in the 19th Asian Games and break the Championship Record.”
“Now we officially close this season with a smile. Thank you to my team for preparing me for the 4 major championships we took part for this year. From Sea Games in May to Asian Games this September. A feat I thought impossible made possible by @gugliettaantonio, @nikviscu44, Sheryll Casuga and last but definitely not the least, my Coach, Vitaliy Petrov,” pasasalamat pa ni EJ.