The Philippines has selected two Filipino Olympians to represent the country’s delegation of 395 athletes as flag–bearers at the 2023 Asian Games.
The Asian Games is fast approaching, and for many athletes, this may be the last major multi-sport competition for Asian athletes before the highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics. With this, the Filipino delegates traveling to Hangzhou, China for the Games will be looking to give their all in their respective events, especially those who are hoping to qualify for the Olympics.
Given the magnitude of this event, the Philippine Olympic Committee announced that two Filipino Tokyo Olympians will be representing the country as the flag-bearers at the Asian Games opening ceremony on September 23. Representing the male delegates will be pole vaulter EJ Obiena, and representing the female delegates will be skateboarder Margielyn Didal.
EJ Obiena will be coming into the Asian Games on a high, having won numerous medals from his competitions all year long. Most recently, he bagged a silver medal in the Wanda Diamond League final, behind two-time world champion Armand Duplantis. Before this, he went on back-to-back gold medals in the NetAacgen Domspringen and the ISTAF Berlin.
On the other hand, Margielyn Didal will be looking to repeat the history she made in the previous Asian Games, winning the gold medal in the skateboarding event.
Obiena and Didal, two proven Filipino athletes, will be leading the Philippines delegation in the opening ceremony of the Asian Games. With this, they will be representing the country’s 395 athletes in the Asian Games.
Banner image from EJ Obiena and Margielyn Didal on Instagram.
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