EJ Obiena defends Alex Eala amid online criticism
By Clarence Concepcion
A losing streak should never overshadow years of sacrifice.
Fresh from defending his Asian Games pole vault crown, EJ Obiena came to the defense of Filipina tennis star Alex Eala on Monday, October 19, amid online criticisms over her recent tournament defeats.
In a social media post, Obiena urged fans to look beyond results and recognize the pressure athletes face when years of preparation are judged by a single competition.
“One competition can seem to define years of sacrifice. But a result can never tell the whole story,” Obiena wrote.
His statement came after Eala’s difficult stretch, including a three-set defeat to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova in the Singapore Open round of 16 and a first-round loss to China’s Han Shi at the Wuhan Open.
The 21-year-old also settled for bronze at the Asian Games after losing to China’s Wang Xiyu in the women’s singles semifinals.
The Filipino Olympian stressed that defeats are inevitable in professional sports, with even the most accomplished stars experiencing difficult stretches. He cited tennis great Novak Djokovic and NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to illustrate that setbacks do not automatically mean failure.
Obiena also reminded fans that athletes face the same personal challenges and disappointments as everyone else.
“We are human. Athletes may sometimes be treated like gods. But we are not. We have good days and bad days, just like everyone else,” Obiena emphasized.
The Asian Games champion then appealed directly to supporters criticizing Eala and other national athletes.
“If you want to help Alex, me, or any athlete, pick us up when we are down,” he wrote.
For Obiena, genuine support should extend beyond medals and victories, particularly when athletes are going through their toughest moments.
