PBBM congratulates EJ Obiena for winning Phl’s first Asiad gold

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday congratulated pole vault champion EJ Obiena on winning the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Saturday night and taking home the nation's first gold medal.

Marcos congratulated Obiena on X (formerly Twitter) after the pole vault king cleared 5.75 meters and later cleared 5.90 meters to clinch the gold medal.

"Congratulations, EJ, on clinching our first gold in the men's pole vault at the 19th Asian Games!" Marcos said.

"Kudos as well to Patrick King Perez, Jones Inso, Gideon Padua, Clemente Tabugara Jr., Alex Eala, and Francis Casey Alcantara for their outstanding performances in Taekwondo, Wushu, and Tennis! Best of luck to all our athletes competing ahead!" he added.

Obiena, for his part, said that he worked under pressure just to win the first gold medal for the Philippines.

However, he felt the weight of the expectations, implying quietly that living up to those expectations did take a toll on him.

"It's a privilege to be in this position where the whole country is literally expecting gold because of you guys, so good job, and thank God, I didn't crack," Obiena said during a media scrum moments after his first Asian Games conquest.

Japan's Seito Yamamoto held the Asian Games record, jumping 5.70 meters. But Obiena broke that record with his jump.

At 6.0 meters, the Filipino pole vaulter holds the record for all of Asia.