UIPM 2017 World Cup Final: Who to Watch

Anticipation is growing ahead of the 2017 UIPM World Cup Final, which takes place at Vingis Park in Vilnius (LTU) from June 23-25.

The World Cup Final, which will be televised on Eurosport as part of a new partnership between the continental broadcaster and UIPM, has attracted many of Modern Pentathlon’s biggest names and most of the in-form athletes who have lit up the 2017 season.

Four Olympic champions – Lena Schoeneborn (GER, 2008), Laura Asadauskaite (LTU, 2012), David Svoboda (CZE, 2012) and Alexander Lesun (RUS, 2016) – are on the entry list along with both 2016 individual world champions, Sarolta Kovacs (HUN) and Valentin Belaud (FRA).

Asadauskaite (LTU) will start as favourite for many as she competes in front of her home crowd along with compatriots Justinas Kinderis, Ieva Serapinaite and Lina Batuleviciuite. But the world No.1, winner of World Cup Final gold in 2012 and 2015, is sure to find stiff competition from the likes of Annika Schleu (GER), Gulnaz Gubaydullina (RUS) and Kim Sunwoo (KOR).

Lesun, Olympic gold medallist in Rio 10 months ago, also goes to Vilnius defending the world No.1 spot and he is sure to relish renewing a long-running battle with Pavlo Tymoshchenko (UKR), who took Olympic silver behind Lesun in Rio but who has been the standout performer in this World Cup season, occupying every position from 1st to 4th in the four rounds to date.

Other Men’s Individual contenders are likely to be Valentin Prades (FRA) and the Korean duo of Jun Woongtae and Jung Jinhwa.

All three days of the 2017 World Cup Final can be watched on Eurosport 2, according to the following schedule:

Men`s Final on the 23/06 at 21:45 CET  (replay on Eurosport 2, on the 24/06 at 8:30)
Women`s Final on the 24/06 at 22:15 CET (replay on Eurosport 2, on the 25/06 at 8:30)
Mixed Relay on the 25/06 at 21:45 CET (replay on Eurosport 2, on the 26/06 at 8:30)

Find the finalists: