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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Sasma, four others complete cast in World Pole Vault Challenge

Sasma, four others complete cast in World Pole Vault Challenge

Published Sep 6, 2025 01:58 pm

At A Glance

  • World No. 5 Ersu Sasma of Turkey spearheads the final list of athletes seeing action in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge happening on Sept. 21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati.
Some of the participants in the EJ Obiena-initiated Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge. (Tournament website)
Some of the participants in the EJ Obiena-initiated Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge. (Tournament website)
World No. 5 Ersu Sasma of Turkey spearheads the final list of athletes seeing action in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge happening on Sept. 21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati.
The two-time Olympian is expected to join the initial cast that has fellow Netherlands’ Menno Vloon, and United States Austin Miller and Matt Ludwig.
Also slated to compete in the tournament initiated by Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena are France’s Thibaut Collet, Belgium’s Ben Broeders, Poland’s Piotr Lisek and Germany’s Oleg Zernikel.
Obiena, ranked No. 7, is also competing.
Unfortunately, world No.1 and world record holder Mondo Duplantis would not be participating.
Sasma, who holds a personal-best 5.92 meters, is the highest-ranked athlete in the tournament, boasting of a silver medal at the European Team Championships this year, as well as a bronze in the 2024 European Championships.
Vloon, for his part, is ranked No. 6 and has won the 2025 European Indoor Championships.
Collet is ranked No. 12th, followe by Broeders at 13th, Miller at 14th, Lisek at 15th and Zernikel at 16th.
Ludwig is at 23rd.
The tournament, in partnership with Ayala Foundation’s Atletang Ayala and the MVP Sports Foundation, aims to bring world-class pole vault competition to the country to help boost the sport to local audiences.
The spotlight will also shine on Filipino pole vaulters on Sept. 20 with a national competition to be held.
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