Modern pentathlon's ranking round in fencing features 35 contests for each pentathlete ©UIPM/Augustas Didžgalvis

Egypt’s Mohanad Shaban continued his fine form on the fencing piste this season in the men’s fencing ranking round at the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) World Cup Final in Ankara. 

Shaban recorded 25 wins and only 10 defeats in a confidence-boosting start to a competition in the Turkish capital where the first Olympic berths for Paris 2024 are on offer.

Close behind are 2022 UIPM World Cup winner Jun Woong-tae of South Korea and Zhang Linbin of China who both won 24 contests on the opening day.

World and Olympic champion Joe Choong of Britain and Mexico’s Manuel Padilla both achieved 22 wins.

French pentathletes Marie Oteiza and Elodie Clouvel both made a fine start in the ranking round ©UIPM/Augustas Didžgalvis
French pentathletes Marie Oteiza and Elodie Clouvel both made a fine start in the ranking round ©UIPM/Augustas Didžgalvis

In the women’s competition, France had two in the top three after the ranking round.

Marie Oteiza of France and Haydy Morsy of Egypt both secured 24 victories to lead the standings but Elodie Clouvel, the 2022 UIPM World Cup Final winner last year, won 23 of her bouts.

Kim Sun-woo of South Korea recorded 22 wins in fourth and her compatriot Song Seung-min is one of four competitors on 21 victories, along with Rebecca Langrehr of Germany, Salma Abdelmaksoud of Egypt and Karolina Krenkova of the Czech Republic.

The women’s semi-finals are set to begin tomorrow with the fencing bonus round followed by swimming, riding and then the laser run.

The men’s semi-finals are due to take place on Friday (June 2).