Nakonechnyi did not appear to be in contention for a podium finish after a steady display in the first three events of fencing, swimming and riding, but took control in the second shooting round and running loop to establish an unassailable lead.

"I am very happy," said the Latvian.

"I thank my family and I thank Cairo and the lovely people of Egypt.

"A year ago I finished in fifth place and now I am the winner so I am very thankful.

"I have a new coach and a new team and I thank them too, this is a great result for me and I am delighted."

Nakonechnyi was joined on the podium by Czech Republic's Jan Kuf, who took silver, and Belarus' Pavel Tsikhanau in third, who claimed his first medal in international competition.

"I was really tired in the last leg," said Kuf, who came from ninth position to clinch second.

"It is a good thing I finished second because I can now be more confident for the upcoming competitions and we'll see how it goes.

"I thought my fencing was average and the rest was too, so I am hoping it will be good in the rest of the season now."

Ruslan Nakonechnyi produced a steady display in the fencing, swimming and riding, before delivering when it really mattered in the combined event ©UIPM



Tsikhanau was the early pacesetter after the fencing with 23 wins, while home athlete Omar El Geziry and Poland's Szymon Staskiewicz were tied for second on 22 wins.

Meanwhile reigning world champion, Aleksander Lesun of Russia, had to retire from the competition with a back injury.

Amro El Geziry was the only pentathlete to swim under the two-minute mark with a time of 1 min 59.32sec, while brother Omar's third-placed finish in a time of 2:02.26 saw him move to the top of the overall classification.

Tsikhanau dropped to second overall, while eventual winner Nakonechnyi sat third as his challenge for the title began to mount.

Omar El Geziry maintained his grip on first place as one of nine competitors to achieve the maximum 300 points in the riding

The Egyptian held a 15 second advantage going in to the final combined event with Tsikhanau in second and Hungary's Bence Demeter in third.

And although Demeter's fellow countryman Adam Marosi had put himself in contention for a medal after the first round of shooting, Nakonechnyi stepped up a gear and did not look back.

Last year's winner, Italy's Riccardo De Luca, made a late challenge for the podium along with compatriot Fabio Poddighe and France's Valentin Belaud but Tsikhanau managed to hold off the trio.

The action in Cairo concludes tomorrow with the mixed relay competition.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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