Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena has secured the Philippines' first gold medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the 27-year-old Filipino athlete triumphed by clearing the bar at 5.90 meters during his second attempt, setting a fresh Asian record on his path to gold.
Although he missed on his first attempt, he nailed the bar on his second, securing the gold.
Obiena tried to break his own record at 6.02 meters but missed all three tries.
The podium was completed by athletes from the host nation, the People's Republic of China, and Saudi Arabia. Huang Bokai and Hussain al Hizam both achieved heights of 5.65 meters, with Huang securing silver through a countback.
With this gold medal, the Philippines' medal count now stands at 8, consisting of 6 bronze, 1 silver, and 1 gold, positioning the nation at the 18th spot in the overall medal rankings.
