TWO-TIME Olympian Ernest John “EJ” Obiena settled for bronze in the INIT Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe in Germany, clearing 5.70 meters (m) to secure a podium finish.
Norway’s Sondre Mogens Guttormsen topped the podium with 5.84 m, followed by American Cole Walsh with 5.78 m.
This comes a day after ruling the Asian Indoor Championships in China.
Obiena’s recent triumph in the Asian Indoor Championships completes an “Asian slam” alongside his gold medals in the Asian Championships and Asian Games.
“What makes this Asian Indoor Championships Gold medal so special is this: It was my second time to enter the arena of this competition. For multiple various reasons, including being unable to get my poles to the host city, this was my first real chance in this arena after a decade (from my first),” Obiena said.
“Secondly, this was the final remaining Asian Championship Gold that I haven’t got. I have won multiple SEA Games, Asian Games, Asian Championships, the one remaining was the Asian Indoors Championship,” he added.