UIPM 2021 Pentathlon Junior World Championships : Elgendy (EGY) lives up to his billing

• Tokyo Olympics-bound senior world medallist repeats 2018 junior success
• Hard-earned silver for Gromadskii (RUS) in Alexandria (EGY)
• Laser Run pace propels Bohm (HUN) from 9th to bronze

Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt warmed up for his Olympic Games debut in the perfect manner by becoming world junior champion for the second time in his home country.

Elgendy (EGY) was 18 when he first won this title in 2018, the year of a remarkable clean sweep that also saw him claim gold at the Youth Olympic Games and the UIPM Youth World Championships (U19).

Three years on, he is 21 and on the brink of competing on the ultimate stage – and with no cause to fear the opposition. Last month Elgendy (EGY) won bronze at the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Championships to secure his place at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

On paper, he was the gold-medal favourite today and nothing happened on day six of the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon Junior World Championships to give his rivals any real hope of upsetting the odds.

Behind him, an impressive silver was won by Egor Gromadskii of Russia, while Csaba Bohm of Hungary took home the bronze medal. Pele Uibel of Germany took 4th place.

More than 250 athletes aged 21 and under are taking part in the last global competition before the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Medallists’ reaction

Elgendy (EGY) said: “I’m very proud to win this medal. It’s in my home country and it’s my second medal of the season after the bronze medal I won at the senior championships in Cairo. It’s good preparation for Tokyo 2020 and I hope I can do it in Tokyo.

“Everything was good across the disciplines today, I can’t complain about anything and I made it to the Laser Run in the lead. I will not say I was totally relaxed, but it was enough.

“All the Olympic preparation is going well, I’m training very hard. Two weeks until we travel to Tokyo and less than 20 days until we compete. We have to practise some things in Riding and Fencing, and then everything will be ready to go.”

Bohm (HUN) said: “I feel exhausted, but it’s unbelievable because I started the Laser Run in 9th place and I was able to make the podium. I’m unbelievably happy.

“I had some struggles with my Fencing, but I did my PB in the Swimming pool and I nearly had a clear round in Riding, and then my Laser Run – especially the running – was incredible.  

Swimming

Quickest off the blocks in the first global junior men’s final in two years was Minseo Lee of Korea, who timed 1:56.30 to narrowly outpace Mathis Rochat of France (1:56.85) and Giorgio Malan of Italy (1:57.40), with Elgendy (EGY) only a fraction of a second slower.

Fencing

He has a name recognisable to many sports fans around the world, and Uibel (GER) could be a major star in Modern Pentathlon if he continues to perform like he did in the Fencing Ranking Round in Alexandria (EGY).

Scoring 28V/7D, he took the overall lead and kept at bay the challenge of Belarus, who had two athletes locked on 26 victories – Alexei Khurs and Maksim Maruk. Khurs (BLR) was the last man standing in the Bonus Round.

The host nations’ medal hopes were maintained by Elgendy (EGY) and Mohanad Shaban (EGY), each of whom scored 25 wins in the Ranking Round with Shaban (EGY) winning their Bonus Round duel.

Riding

As in the Women’s Final yesterday, there was a high level of competence on horseback with seven athletes achieving the maximum score of 300 points. Maruk (BLR) was among them and Elgendy (EGY) dropped only two points in time penalties, ensuring he would start the Laser Run in pole position.

Malan (ITA) and Bohm (HUN) also scored an impressive 298, while Gromadskii (RUS) and Uibel (GER) dropped points but remained in overall contention.

Laser Run

With a healthy starting lead and the proven pedigree of a global champion, Elgendy (EGY) knew the junior world title was his to lose.

For the first half of the race he kept a safe distance between himself and his closest pursuers, Uibel (GER) and Maruk (BLR), with Gromadskii (RUS) just behind the podium positions.

The third circuit saw the leader stretch his lead, leaving all the intrigue behind him as the rest jostled for those precious medals. It was Gromadskii (RUS) who made the key move, advancing past Maruk (BLR) and then Pele (GER) on the third lap.

With Bohm (HUN) and Shaban (EGY) in hot pursuit, Uibel (GER) was unable to cling on to his bronze medal and it was Bohm (HUN) who reined him in before stretching his legs to finish closer to 2nd than 4th. Bohm (HUN) was the top Laser Run performer with a time of 11:50.00.

Watch and follow

The UIPM 2021 Pentathlon Junior World Championships in Alexandria (EGY) concludes on Sunday, July 18 with the Mixed Relay.

Visit the UIPM website or download “UIPM Central” from your app store to keep track of live results.

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