Lifelong Dream Realized: EJ Obiena to stage global pole vault meet in Manila this September

Filipino icon EJ Obiena is on the cusp of fulfilling a lifelong dream, with reports stating that his plan to hold a world-class pole vault event in the Philippines is close to fruition.

Obiena, who has been a consistent advocate for the sport of pole vault in the country, announced on Monday, July 7, that the event—called the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge—will be held at Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, Manila, from September 20 to 21.

“It has been my lifelong dream to mount a world-class sporting event in my homeland to showcase Filipino talent and make the nation proud. Now, it’s finally happening. I call on my compatriots to come together and support this once-in-a-lifetime event,” Obiena said during an online press conference.

“This is something I really want—to showcase the ability of the Philippines to host such an event. That’s why we’re aiming to bring in as many of the top athletes as possible. I want to show that the Philippines is a country capable of staging global competitions. Hopefully, this will be the spark that gets the engine going and leads to more international events being held here,” he added.

The event has been sanctioned by World Athletics and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA). It was originally set for September 20, 2024, but was postponed after Obiena suffered a spine injury that forced him to end his 2024 season early.

JUST IN: EJ Obiena announced that the Philippines will be hosting a World Athletics-sanctioned pole vault event on September 21.

“We are turning the Ayala Triangle Gardens into a world-class pole vault venue. It’s gonna be fun,” he said. | via @romwelanzures

(📷: Courtesy of… pic.twitter.com/YGlc0DsAWW

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 7, 2025

The 29-year-old revealed that the event’s new date was strategically planned to follow the World Championships, increasing the chances that current world No. 1 and pole vault legend Armand “Mondo” Duplantis could participate.

“They are already talking about bringing Mondo here to Makati,” he shared.

Obiena, currently ranked No. 4 in the world, is eager to perform in front of his fellow Filipinos again. His last appearance on home soil was in 2019, during the Southeast Asian Games.

“I can’t wait to jump in front of a home crowd. I haven’t done that in such a long time. The last time was during the SEA Games, and even then, it wasn’t in the heart of the city. Bringing the sport outside the track—closer to the people—and holding it in a busy area like Makati is amazing. It adds pressure, which I don’t always enjoy, but it’s something I’m really looking forward to,” Obiena said.

He is currently in Monaco, in the midst of his 2025 season, and is next set to compete in the Meeting Herculis EBS, the Monaco leg of the Diamond League, on July 11.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.