European Under 24 Championships: Big win for impressive Kardos (HUN)

A commanding victory for Bence Kardos of Hungary marked the second day of the first Category A Modern Pentathlon competition held since the declaration of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

In becoming European men’s Under 24 champion, Kardos (HUN) showed no mercy for a strong field, ultimately crossing the line 25sec ahead of the local favourite.

Lukasz Gutkowski of Poland won a satisfying silver medal on home soil in Drzonkow (POL), finishing 2sec ahead of Marek Grycz of Czech Republic.

There were 19 participants from seven competing nations, with Lithuania, Ukraine, Turkey and Switzerland also entering athletes. Host nation Poland won team gold with silver going to Ukraine and bronze to Turkey.

Ukraine’s athletes took the initiative in the first two disciplines, with Vladyslav Chekan (UKR) recording the fastest time in Swimming (02:00.45) and Kyrym Shekhmametyev (UKR) standing out in Fencing with an eye-catching 29V/7D. Maxence Hofer (SUI) scored 25V/11D but the leaderboard was dominated by the yellow-and-blue flag until the athletes entered the Riding arena.

It was on horseback that Ukraine’s grip on the competition loosened. Chekan (UKR) was eliminated after a mistake in the warm-up and with clean rounds for the likes of Kamil Kasperczak (POL), Titas Puronas (LTU) and team-mates Dora Nusretoglu and Yunus Caliskan (TUR), the Laser Run became a much less predictable proposition.

Kardos (HUN) produced a truly exceptional run-shoot, cutting through the field like a knife through butter as he finished the four circuits in 10:30.81 and won with ease. There was a gripping battle for silver between Gutkowski (POL) and Grycz (CZE) and they were also joined in the sub-11min club by Kasperczak (POL), who finished 4th with a comfortable margin from the Ukrainians.

A Mixed Relay comprising 12 teams will conclude the competition on November 23.