When the 31st Southeast Asian Games begin on May 12 at the MNy Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena will carry the Philippine flag during the traditional parade of nations.
Because only one athlete can carry the flag at the SEA Games, Obiena will be joined by Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz.
On the other hand, Diaz is a staunch supporter of Obiena, claiming that her fellow Tokyo Olympian is the best and a “story of every Filipino athlete who fights to bring home pride and glory to the country.”
“I’m very happy to see EJ as our flag bearer for Team Philippines,” said Diaz. Like EJ Obiena, Diaz will be defending her gold medal in the Hanoi SEA Games. “I’m happy for him and the rest of the Philippine delegation. I will support him.”
“There could only be one flag bearer for each country. We nominated Hidilyn and EJ, but it was turned down,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino explained.
“Like Hidilyn, EJ has all the qualifications to be our flag bearer,” he added.
Obiena is the overwhelming favorite to win the gold medal in pole vault once more. He finished first in 2019 and set a new SEA Games record of 5.45 meters. Since then he’s only gotten better, setting a new Asian men’s record of 5.93 meters last year in Innsbruck, Austria.
EJ Obiena to carry Philippine flag in SEA Games opening
“It’s an honor,” said EJ Obiena. “I was heading home after training here in Formia [Italy] when I received the message.”
“All I can do for now is to train harder and be better, and smarter,” he added. “I really want to defend my SEA Games title.”
The 6-foot-2 pole vaulter is one of 656 athletes who will defend Vietnam’s overall championship in the Games, which the country is hosting for the first time since 2003.
The hosts have scheduled 40 sports in which the Philippines will compete, with the Philippines competing in 39 of them. Tolentino, on the other hand, appears unfazed.
“We are fielding a fighting team,” Tolentino said.
Team Philippines will fly to Vietnam in phases, with the main bulk departing two days before the opening ceremony on May 10. The SEA Games will conclude on May 23.