UIPM 2024 Pentathlon U19 World Championships: Egypt get off to a flyer with double Relay gold
Egypt again underlined its next-generation Pentathlon pedigree as the African powerhouse got the UIPM 2024 U19 World Championships off to a brilliant start with a clean sweep of Team Relay gold on the opening day in Druskininkai (LTU).
Just two weeks after racking up five gold medals at the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon U17 World Championships, Egypt grabbed another two in the picturesque Lithuanian spa town as first Jana Attia and Farida Khalil stormed to Women’s Relay honours before compatriots Mohamed Hassan and Osama Zaki topped the Men’s podium.
With Obstacle making only its second appearance at global U19 level, the competition was all-action from the get-go. Germany (Cansu Kurt & Nadja Farmand) jumped out to an early lead in the Women’s event but were eventually reeled in by a stellar Laser Run performance from Egypt (Attia/Khalil). Bronze went to Hungary (Dora Krall & Reka Nyerges).
Over 30 teams competed Tuesday but the dominance of one nation was confirmed when Egypt (Hassan/Zaki) held off the Czechia duo of Matej Kornel and Tobias Raska to triumph in the Men’s competition with Kazakhstan (Danil Bogdanov & Lev Chuvashov) taking the third place on the podium.
For 13-year-old phenom Khalil (EGY) in particular, Tuesday’s triumph was the perfect start as she chases a remarkable U17/U19 World Championship double. The Relays introduced six days of action culminating with individual Finals on Saturday (September 28) and Mixed Relay on Sunday (September 29).
Champions’ reaction
Women’s Relay gold medallist Attia (EGY) said: “I’m super happy because this is the first time I compete in the Women’s Relay and getting the gold medal is really a dream.It was so hard today, especially the Laser Run, 11 seconds of a gap to the Germans. I am aiming for the individual event to get a medal as well. Next season I am targeting the Senior World Cup and the World Championships as well.”
Her teammate Khalil (EGY) said: “It was very competitive today, a hard competition. It was difficult against the German team so we got to the Laser Run and had to help each other a lot to succeed. We did it and we got the gold medal. I am looking forward and hoping to get the gold medal in U19 as well [as the U17]. My goal for sure is to be at Los Angeles in 2028.”
Men’s gold medallist Zaki (EGY) said: “Today was so fun. We did well to be honest in the Fencing, Obstacle and Fencing. It’s a great start. I have an injury but I hope I will be good [for the individual].”
His teammate Hassan (EGY) added: “Thank god it was good for us. We did well. The Laser Run was so good but my friend had an injury so it was difficult for him. But he is so good to be able to get to the finish line. Wish us luck for the rest of the week! A first individual medal is my target.”
Women’s Relay
With 14 nations representing five continents competing, the week’s action began with a fittingly global outlook and the class in the field was quickly apparent. Germany (Kurt/Farmand) jumped to the head of proceedings with 21 Victories in Fencing with Egypt (Attia/Khalil) just one behind.
The rivals went to toe-to-toe in the Obstacle discipline with Germany (Kurt/Farmand) producing the day’s fastest time in a blistering 01:01.23, fully six seconds faster than the entire field. Egypt (Attia/Khalil) were second fastest with Czechia (Alexandra Fernandes & Daniela Vesela) also impressing, third-fastest in 01:08.20.
Czechia (Fernandes/Vesela) would follow it up with the fastest swim, clocking 02:04.95. However the consistency of Germany (Kurt/Farmand) ensured they had an 11-second lead on Egypt (Attia/Khalil) going into the Laser Run.
But with both Attia and Khalil in inspired form, the leaders were chased down in impressive fashion. Egypt (Attia/Khalil) raced to gold ahead of Germany (Kurt/Farmand) and Hungary (Krall/Nyerges) with France (Coline Flavin & Agathe Chastagner) producing a rapid Laser Run of 13:47.81, 13 seconds faster than any rival, to move all the way up to fifth.
Men’s Relay
An additional three nations took part in the Men’s competition, bringing the total to 17 but just like the Women earlier in the day, Egypt (Hassan/Zaki) wasted no time taking the initiative, racking up 24 Victories in the opening Fencing discipline. Japan (Akira Saito & Keigo Ito) were next best with 21 Victories.
Ireland (Peter Galligan & Jed Collins) had impressed in Fencing and did so again over the Obstacle discipline, finishing fourth-fastest in 00:57.67. Like their teammates in the Women’s event earlier, it was Germany (Theo Wild/Platon Iefremenko) who were quickest of all in 00:52.73.
The consistency of Egypt (Hassan/Zaki) was most impressive. Having been best in Fencing, second-fastest in Obstacle, they were third-fastest in the pool in 01:52.87, the fastest Swimming time belonging to Korea (Geonha Kim & Taegyung Lim) with 1:51.91. With a commanding cushion, Egypt (Hassan/Zaki) held their nerve in the Laser Run, in spite of a calf injury which was affecting Zaki and doubled up on gold medals with Czechia (Kornel/Raska) 10 seconds behind and Kazakhstan (Bogdanov/Chuvashov) in third.
Watch and follow
The UIPM 2024 Pentathlon U19 World Championships continues Wednesday with Women’s Qualification. It runs until September 29, according to the following schedule (UIPM TV times in brackets):
Wednesday September 25: Women’s Qualification
Thursday September 26: Men’s Qualification
Friday September 27: Fencing Ranking Round
Saturday September 28: Women’s Final (09:00) | Men’s Final (13:45)
Sunday September 29: Mixed Relay (12:45)
(All times CEST)
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