Extra fuel for Paris drive

MANILA, Philippines — Hangzhou Asian Games pole vault gold medalist EJ Obiena will have a treasure chest of fund when he prepares for a long, arduous journey towards Paris Olympics glory next year.

The World No. 2 from the Philippines received a funding worth P10 million – P3 million from his alma mater Chiang Kai Shek, P5 million from Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., and P1 million each from businessmen Anton Tan and Carlos Chan – to help fuel his Olympic drive.

The Asian record-holder personally received the pledge during a homecoming at its Manila campus and vowed to scale greater heights in Paris.

“I think I’m in a very good space, environment to produce something historic,” said Obiena.

The Southeast Asian Games and now Asian Games king has been busy writing history the whole year.

He breached the six-meter mark and joined the elite club as the lone Asian.

He had time and time again re-arranged the national and Asian marks and was the first Filipino to make the Paris cut.

Of course, Obiena has been receiving funding from the Philippine Sports Commission.

But the additional support should go a long way for Obiena, who is hoping to deliver the country’s first Olympic medal since Miguel White captured a 400-meter hurdles bronze in the 1936 Berlin Games.