World class pole vaulter EJ Obiena will be the country’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games slated on May 12 at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino announced this Sunday, adding that they initially nominated two flag bearers in weightlifting Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Obiena, but was turned down by the organizers.
“There could only be one flag bearer for each country. Like Hidilyn, EJ has all the qualifications to be our flag bearer,” Tolentino said.
Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, fully supported Obiena’s selection, saying that her fellow Tokyo Olympian is the “story of every Filipino athlete who fights to bring home pride and glory to the country.”
“I’m very happy to see EJ as our flag bearer for Team Philippines,” said Diaz, who, like Obiena, will defend her weightlifting gold medal in the postponed Games from last year.
“I’m happy for him and the rest of the Philippine delegation. I will support him.”
Obiena, currently the world No. 6 pole vaulter, embraced the responsibility.
“It’s an honor,” Obiena said. “I was heading home after training here in Formia when I received the message.”
Obiena retaining the SEA Games gold medal is a cinch. He won gold in the 2019 Philippine Games with a commanding leap of 5.45 meters and since then has set the bar higher to a new Asian men’s record of 5.93 meters he set last year in Innsbruck, Austria, last year.
He said he has never stopped training to achieve more for himself and for the country.
“All I can do for now is to train harder and be better, and smarter,” the 26-year-old Obiena said. “I really want to defend my SEA Games title.”
The 6-foot-2 pole vaulter is one of 656 athletes who will be defending the country’s grip of the overall championship in the Games that Vietnam is hosting for only the second time since 2003.
The PH team will be competing in 39 of the 40 sports, and Tolentino said they are sending a strong team.
“We are fielding a fighting team,” Tolentino said.
Team Philippines will fly to Vietnam in batches with the main bulk set to leave on May 10, two days before the opening ceremony. The Games end on May 23.