UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Ankara: French (GBR) in timely comeback

• Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion set for first taste of new format
• First-ever home competition for Turkish hero Ozyuksel
• Jun (KOR) and Choong (GBR) poised to continue duel

Both of the reigning Olympic champions will be on the start line as the stakes are raised at UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Ankara.

Tokyo 2020 Modern Pentathlon gold medallists Kate French and Joseph Choong head up a formidable Great Britain team gracing the final competition of the regular season.

With the showpiece Pentathlon World Cup Final coming up in Ankara (TUR) from June 22-26, qualification is on the line as Turkey hosts its first Category A competition since 2011, giving world No.6 Ilke Ozyuksel her first opportunity to compete for global honours in front of a home crowd.

This week’s competition will be the fourth to feature the new, TV-friendly format designed for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. All five disciplines are contested in a 90-minute blitz of action and a new champion is crowned inside two hours.

The action began today with two days of qualification determining the line-up for the new-look Semi-finals on June 9/10.

Only 36 athletes (18 female, 18 male) will return for the Finals on June 11 before the competition concludes with the Mixed Relay on June 12.

Ones to watch

Once again the men’s competition features an all-star cast, with Olympic champion Choong (GBR) renewing his rivalry with Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Woongtae Jun of Korea, who set a new Modern Pentathlon world record as well as a Fencing record last month in Albena (BUL).

France can also have high hopes of podium success after selecting two-time world champion Valentin Belaud and three-time Pentathlon World Cup Final winner Valentin Prades, while Jun (KOR) is far from the only member of his team with medal potential – Jinhwa Jung (KOR) and the returning Jihun Lee (KOR) also have the pedigree to succeed.

Others who might feature strongly are Hungary superstars Adam Marosi and Bence Demeter, Germany brothers Patrick and Marvin Dogue and team-mate Fabian Liebig, and home favourite Bugra Unal (TUR).

Making their first appearances of the season, French (GBR) and fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympian Joanna Muir (GBR) are unlikely to be far away from the business end of the women’s event.

Many eyes will be on Ozyuksel (TUR) after her comeback bronze in Albena (BUL), while Veronika Novotna of Czech Republic was a surprise silver medallist last time out and will be aiming to confirm her potential.

Other notable names are world No.4 Rebecca Langrehr (GER), Mexico duo Mayan Oliver and Mariana Arceo and Asian trailblazers Sunwoo Kim and Sehee Kim (KOR).

Visit the UIPM website to see the latest world rankings for women and men.

President’s welcome

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “I am delighted to welcome all athletes, coaches and officials to Ankara for the first of three important events in the month of June 2022.

“This week we will see many of the world’s best pentathletes working hard to qualify for the Pentathlon World Cup Final, which also takes place in Ankara immediately followed by the New Pentathlon Discipline Test event on June 27-28.

“On behalf of the global Modern Pentathlon community I send gratitude to the Turkey Modern Pentathlon Federation and to all volunteers, sponsors and supporters who will make this a special time for our sport. Thanks also to the city and national government and the National Olympic Committee of Turkey for supporting our sport.”

Watch and follow

With Semi-finals now part of the competition streaming service, live coverage of UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Ankara is available to subscribers on UIPM.TV where annual packages cost €14.99.

Follow World Pentathlon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout the Pentathlon World Cup for additional content, and visit the UIPM website or download the ‘UIPM Central’ app to keep track of results.

Competition schedule

UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Ankara

Times denote start of UIPM.TV live coverage (CEST)

June 7: Women’s Qualification

June 8: Men’s Qualification | Women’s Fencing Ranking Round

June 9: Women’s Semi-final A (9.55am) | Women’s Semi-final B (3.55pm) | Men’s Fencing Ranking Round

June 10: Men’s Semi-final A (9.55am) | Men’s Semi-final B (3.55pm)

June 11: Women’s Final (9.05am) | Men’s Final (1.05pm)

June 12: Mixed Relay (1.55pm)