Asia's top pole vaulter EJ Obiena lamented he will not be able to compete in the World Indoor Championships despite gaining qualification.

The Pinoy athlete said in a Facebook post Saturday that with his recent outing in previous competitions, he could have become the first Filipino home-grown athlete to compete in the event.

"With my recent results I have qualified for the World Indoor Championships. I am currently ranked 5th and holding the 4th highest jump of the season. This competition is next week in Belgrade, Serbia," said Obiena in his latest social media post.

• Obiena sets new PH indoor record to secure silver in France

In his recent outing, Obiena set a new Philippine indoor record by clearing 5.91 meters for a second place finish at the Perche Elite Tour in Rouen, France.

He also holds the Asian record of 5.93 meters, which is way above the SEA Games standard of 5.45 meters he himself set during the 2019 edition of the Games.

However, he is locked in a funding squabble with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

The federation denied his request for endorsement to the World Indoors in Belgrade, as well as the Vietnam SEA Games, World Championships in Oregon in July, and the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September.

• ‘Loyalty’: Obiena says ‘no desire to change nations’, despite PATAFA feud

"I have not been endorsed for the Worlds. Registration is now closed. I won’t be attending. I am the only top-ranked vaulter not participating," rued Obiena.

"If country was ever put first, I should be headed to Belgrade now. But I am not. I will watch it on TV like millions of others. I will see other nations take the medal that Philippines should be winning."