ANKARA — Youth and Sports Minister Ashraf Sobhy congratulated Egyptian athlete star Mohanad Shaban after snatching a gold medal at the 2023 UIPM Pentathlon World Cup.
Shaban has secured a direct qualification quota place for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after winning individual gold at the 2023 UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Final in Ankara.
The Men’s Final almost had to be abandoned due to heavy rain, but it finally took place after a three-hour rain delay. And slippery conditions were a major factor in a heart-stopping Laser Run climax.
Shaban (EGY) ended up on his back at the first corner, but it was a slip from Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Joseph Choong of Great Britain in the final metres that determined the winner as Shaban (EGY) prevailed in one of the most dramatic sprint finishes Modern Pentathlon has seen.
Emiliano Hernandez of Mexico held off pressure from Csaba Bohm of Hungary to secure bronze, while Woojin Park of Korea and Marek Grycz of Czech Republic completed the top six.
Elena Micheli of Italy (ITA) won a thrilling Women’s Final after holding off the challenge of local favourite Ilke Ozyuksel of Türkiye, who delighted the home crowd with silver, and bronze medallist Marie Oteiza of France, with Alice Sotero (ITA), Gintare Venckauskaite of Lithuania and Kerenza Bryson of Great Britain completing the top six.
“In my first World Cup of the season, in Egypt, I took the 4th place; then I got the gold here in Ankara and then the silver in Budapest,” men’s champion Shaban said.
“Then I came back here for the World Cup Final and I took the gold from the Olympic champion and the best finisher I think in Pentathlon – I’m so happy.
“I hope to do it again in Paris 2024, and nothing is impossible. Maybe I could,” Shaban added.
Silver medallist Choong of Great Britain added: “It was a great finish. We came down the slight slope and people had their phone lights on trying to light the floor – but it doesn’t do anything, occasionally you hit a muddy bit and you slip.
“There was a bit of jostling, as there always is, but I hit the last corner and then hit a puddle and tilted forwards. From then I’m sliding, splashing around, a bit like ice skating, to be honest.
“But all credit to Mohanad, he’s got a good finish and I think it’s the first time someone has outsprinted me. Fair play – I’m not particularly happy about it but I’ll have it next time,” Choong added.
“I choose to see it as a positive. In the last cycle I got that first Olympic qualification spot, and then it was a bit of a weird feeling at the Europeans because that’s the best chance to get the Olympic qualification, and it’s coming up in a few weeks.
“For me not to have it now is almost a good thing because it keeps me hungry and excited for the next competition.
“Becoming European champion would complete my collection, and I don’t know how many pentathletes have ever got the whole package, so that’s a big goal for me. Also the other guys like Shaban and Jun and other great athletes won’t be there, so hopefully I’m in with a good shout.”
Bronze medallist Hernandez of Mexico said: “I’m amazed. We did so much hard work this season, and I have a special coach who told me ‘it’s time to put the game in play, nothing to lose, everything to win’.
“I am amazed because that coach changed my mentality in this competition, and I am super happy. I hope everyone at home is happy and enjoying that Mexico is on the podium.
“My goal was to qualify for Paris 2024, but they say when you aim to the stars, maybe you will arrive to the moon. And right now it’s the moon – I just finished 3rd in a World Cup Final and it’s amazing”, Hernandez added.
The Fencing Round is not the most heavily-weighted part of the sport but sometimes in the final analysis, victory in a single bout can appear to be a decisive factor. So it proved when Shaban (EGY) took his opportunity to add four points to his tally and, in doing so, deny Choong (GBR) two points to the six he had already gained from three wins.
The other stars of the Bonus Round were Changwan Seo (KOR) with four wins and Grycz (CZE) with three.
The Ranking Round had been dominated by Shaban (EGY), continuing his irrepressible form of 2023.
Predictably, world No.2 and reigning world champion Choong (GBR) boosted his victory bid in the pool, but only gained three points on Shaban (EGY) while Cicinelli (ITA) posted what was narrowly the best time of the day, 2:03.55.
Choong (GBR) also ducked under 2:04 in the Pentathlon Arena 25m pool for 303 points, while Bohm (HUN) added 301 and Shaban (EGY) 300 to their overall tally.
There had to be an element of improvisation in the way the venue was rearranged to enable the Men’s Final to take place, and there were areas of the running course that the floodlights could not reach.
Shaban (EGY) found this to his cost when he ran into the opening corner and lost his footing completely in a puddle.
It was remarkable how well the 22-year-old Egyptian recovered from that mishap to protect his 10sec starting lead. Once again he shot with masterful consistency (12sec/12sec/8sec), only giving Choong (GBR) a chance at the last visit to the range when he took 17sec to fire his shots.
Choong (GBR) seemed to have seized his chance as he muscled past his rival before entering the darkened wooded section of the cross-country course, where overtaking was unlikely.
But Shaban (EGY) gritted his teeth and stayed right on the elbow of the more celebrated athlete, setting up a frantic sprint to the line that evoked memories of the epic duel between James Cooke (GBR) and Valentin Prades (FRA) at the UIPM 2018 Pentathlon World Championships in Mexico City (MEX).
