Asia stages first continental youth competition in Chonburi (THA)

Teenage athletes from 11 nations gathered in Chonburi, Thailand for the 2018 Under 19 Tetrathlon Asia & Oceania Championships from May 24-27.

Ranking points were at stake for athletes aiming to qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (ARG) and the event broke new ground for the UIPM Sports movement in Asia as a standalone competition at continental level for youths.

All of the Tetrathlon disciplines (Swimming, Fencing and Laser-Run) took place in one venue at Chonburi Sports Club across Women’s and Men’s Individual and Mixed Relay categories, following an opening ceremony at the J&Y Hotel.

Zhang Bin (CHN), Vice-President of the Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation (AMPC), said: “This was not only a Youth Olympic Games ranking points competition but also the first youth competition in Asia to be held apart from the senior Asian Championships. That, and the number of participating countries, made it a very historic moment.

“The AMPC hope this will be a good beginning as well as a big step for the Modern Pentathlon Association of Thailand to develop our Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon in Asia.”

Admiral Supot Soodprasert, Vice-President of the Modern Pentathlon Association of Thailand (MPAT) and chair of the organizing committee, issued a warm welcome at the opening ceremony to the athletes, coaches and volunteers who worked hard to arrange and manage the competition.

The 3rd Youth Olympic Games runs from October 6-18 with three Modern Pentathlon competitions (Men’s Individual, Women’s Individual and Mixed Relay) taking place on October 12-14 and 16. To date, 30 athletes have secured a qualifying place.