The 2023 Asian Games: fostering inter-country friendships

"He is truly the pole-vault king of Asia Philippines' star athlete EJ Obiena wins Asian Games pole vault with games record," wrote Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist Andrew McKirdy.

- GRACE ESTANISLAO CASTILLO, CLARISSA MEDIAVILLO & LANIE GORNEZ PURIGAY

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

On September 30, 2023, in the packed 80,800-seat, lotusinspired and high-tech Hangzhou Olympic Centre Stadium in Hangzhou City, China, Ernest John "EJ" Uy Obiena won the Philippines' first gold medal in the 2023 Asian Games. The last time a Filipino athlete won a gold was in Seoul for the 1986 Games. The late Lydia de Vega Mercado won the gold in the women's 100m.

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), led by President Cecilio K. Pedro expressed congratulations for Obiena's win. (His Chinese name is pronounced "Chua Hua Kiong" in Hokkien, Minnan or south Fujian province language and "Chai Hua Chiang" in Mandarin.)

THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE AS PHILIPPINES SHATTERED ASIAD POLE VAULT RECORD

Fresh from his win, Obiena said, "What a way to conclude this amazing season. Jumping in front of [the] thunderous synchronized claps of 80,000 people in a breathtakingly beautiful Hangzhou Stadium was more than enough to blow my mind and unquestionably register a core memory. What a privilege it was to deliver the country's first gold in the 19th Asian Games and break the championship record." The thunderous applause and cheers from the Chinese crowd for Obiena's record-breaking pole vault win showed that sports promotes goodwill and Asian solidarity. What a positive sign for continued Philippines-China friendship.