Obiena back in Top 10

MANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena is back.

The Filipino Asian Games pole vault champion made it back to the Top 10 in world rankings after more than two years hovering outside.

“Crawled my way back to the Top 10 in the world,” said Obiena via social media.

Obiena was philosophical as he quoted some lines of the famous Friedrich Nietzsche on perseverance.

“I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible,” he said. “The fact that something seems impossible shouldn’t be a reason to not pursue it.

“That’s exactly what makes it worth pursuing. Where would the courage and greatness be, if success is certain and there was no risk? The only true failure is shrinking away from life’s challenges,” he added.

Obiena reached as high as No. 2 two years ago but fell from as low as No. 14 early this year due to various injuries.

And then he cracked the Top 10 following a series of strong performances including a gold showing in the recently held Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

“We are so back, baby,” he said.