Obiena successfully leaped the 5.93m tall, surpassing the previous Asian mark of 5.92m held by Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich since 1998.

Also, the 25-year-old vaulter, re-wrote his national record from 5.91m which he only attained weeks ago at the Paris Diamond League.

In the Innsbruck meet, Obiena eclipsed the 5.93m in the third attempt that made him bagged the gold medal. And prior to that, easily cleared the 5.60m, 5.70m, and 5.80m.

Following Obiena are American Matt Ludwig with his silver medal and Turkish Ersu Sasma bagged the bronze.

On the other hand, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) praised Obiena’s achievement and expressed gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission and Ayala Corporation for their support.

“The outstanding improvement in Obiena’s performance is certainly due also to the technical adjustments made by coach Vitaly (Petrov) and executed by Obiena,” said PATAFA president Dr. Philip Ella Juico. 

“Even minor and subtle adjustments, unnoticed by laymen like us, can become a game changer and turning point at the highest level of a very technical and dangerous event like pole vault,” he added. 

“I also like to cite the continuing substantial financial and administrative support of the PSC and chairman Butch Ramirez.”