CAPAS, Tarlac — The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) wants its star pole vaulter, Ernest John Obiena, to be careful as he launches his redemption bid in the outdoor season of World Athletics.

Patafa president Terry Capistrano said on Thursday that the 29-year-old Obiena should put more premium on his health as he shoots for glory in various outdoor tournaments.

Obiena is determined to bounce back after posting forgettable finishes in various indoor tournaments, no thanks to a spine injury that hampered him since seeing action in the Paris Olympics last year.

But he opened his outdoor campaign on a sour note, finishing with a dismal 5.72 meters for a seventh-place performance in the Xiamen leg of the Diamond League.

Obiena, however, still has a chance to redeem himself as he goes up against the likes of world record-holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden, Sam Kendricks of the United States, and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece in the Shanghai edition of the Diamond League this weekend.

But Capistrano said Obiena should not push himself too hard.

“Obviously, his injury has healed but he should choose which competition he should join to make sure that he won’t get injured,” said Capistrano, who has been supporting Obiena since assuming the Patafa presidency from Philip Ella Juico in 2022.

After the Diamond League, Obiena is expected to go back to Manila for a brief rest before flying to Gumi in South Korea to compete in the Asian Athletics Championships from 27 to 31 May.

Obiena is regarded as the best vaulter in Asia after winning the Asian Games in Hangzhou in record-breaking fashion in 2023. In the Asian Championships, he is a two-time champion and winning his third crown is something that is considered as a walk in the park.

Capistrano stressed that their hopes are high on Obiena to retain his Asian title.

“He’ll be there in Gumi. He’s the defending champion there,” Capistrano said.

“I understand that he might go home after Shanghai for a pole event that he organized. Then, he’ll go to South Korea to compete in the Asian Championships.”