Poland, Egypt and France shine on Opening Day of the 49th WMC Modern Pentathlon

DRZONKÓW (POL) – The 49th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship officially came to life in Drzonków with a spectacular opening day of competition that set the tone for a week of high-level military sport. The first medals of the championship were awarded in the women’s and men’s relay finals, as well as in the innovative Obstacle Laser Run mixed relay, offering an early taste of the intensity, drama and camaraderie that characterize CISM’s premier events.

In the women’s relay, Poland immediately made its mark on home soil, delighting the local supporters who packed the venue to cheer for their athletes. Małgorzata Karbownik and Natalia Dominiak delivered a commanding performance across all disciplines, finishing with a total of 1223 points and securing the very first gold medal of the championship. The Hungarian team of Noémi Eszes and Dorina Dobronyi fought bravely and took the silver medal with 1157 points, while Italy’s Maria Lea Lopez and Aurora Tognetti completed the podium on 977 points after a solid run and shoot. Ukraine and Turkey showed their competitiveness as well, with both teams remaining close to the podium throughout the day.

The men’s relay followed with an even more dramatic storyline, as the Egyptian pair of Mohamed El Ashqar and Mohanad Shaban emerged as the heroes of the day. With remarkable consistency and a decisive combined laser run, they amassed 1451 points and celebrated a historic gold for their delegation. Just behind them, Ukraine’s duo of Danylo Sych and Yuriy Kovalchuk secured silver with 1444 points, while the Polish team of Łukasz Gutkowski and Daniel Lawrynowicz thrilled the local crowd with a bronze medal on 1442 points, only two points away from silver. France’s pairing of Léo Bories and Valentin Belaud, the 2016 World Champion and two-time Olympian, demonstrated their international pedigree but narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish.

The day concluded with the fast-paced and crowd-pleasing Obstacle Laser Run mixed relay, a discipline that combines speed, agility, shooting precision and resilience, and is quickly gaining popularity within the CISM program. France once again stood on top of the podium, as Rebecca Castaudi and Jean-Baptiste Mourcia captured gold with 879 points. Switzerland’s Anna Jurt and Vital Mueller earned silver with 847 points, and Turkey’s duo of Ilke Özyüksel, a Tokyo Olympian and regular UIPM World Cup medalist, and Kıvanç Taşyaran secured bronze with 557 points. Italy, Egypt, Brazil, Austria, Ukraine, Lithuania and Spain all displayed great determination in a highly contested race that kept the audience engaged until the very end.

The opening day of competition in Drzonków confirmed the depth and diversity of talent present at the 49th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship. With Olympic and world-level athletes such as Valentin Belaud and Ilke Özyüksel already lighting up the event, and with military delegations from across the globe showing their strength, the stage is set for an exceptional week that embodies CISM’s motto of Friendship through Sport.

• Final Results: Modern Pentathlon Men's Relay - Modern Pentathlon Women's Relay - Obstacle Laser-Run Mixed Relay

All information, results and updates about the championship are available on the LOC Website.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department - Pictures: Centralny Wojskowy Zespół Sportowy)