EJ Obiena to host PH pole vault challenge in Sept

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena plans to host the Philippine International Pole Vault Challenge on September 20 at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.

The meet, aiming to boost the sport's growth in the Philippines, is registered with World Athletics and will use outdoor surfaces compliant with global standards.

Obiena hopes to invite elite pole vaulters who competed in the Paris Olympics, including bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece, Bokai Huang of China, and Oleg Zernikel of Germany.

He also extended invitations to world record holder and gold medalist Armand Duplantis and silver medalist Sam Kendricks.

This would be Obiena's first local competition in five years.

Philippine athletics officials have not yet confirmed their full support for the proposed tournament.