Obiena ends up empty-handed

Ernest John Obiena fell short of another medal after finishing seventh in the ISTAF Indoor on Sunday in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Obiena, 29, finished with 5.55 meters after winning the gold at the Metz Moselle Athletor in France a day earlier.

The Asian Games gold medalist tried to go over 5.75m but was unsuccessful.

The event is the first tournament where he didn’t get a podium finish this year in the indoor season.

Obiena so far has one gold medal after winning the Metz Moselle Athletor and one runner-up from his stint in the International Springer-Meeting Cottbus last January.

Home bet Torben Blech took the gold afer going over 5.80m while Paris Olympics silver medalist Sam Kendricks settled for a silver medal after going over 5.70m.

Ersu Sasma of Turkey also tallied 5.70m but got a bronze medal due to countback.

Obiena could stay in Germany for a bit longer for the ISTAF Indoor in Berlin on Valentine’s Day.

The Italy-based pole vaulter won the Berlin title last year after setting a new Asian record of 5.93m.