The World Cup final is scheduled to be held in Ankara from 31 May to 4 June. The Egyptian Olympic and world champion Al-Gendi took to his social media accounts to make the announcement of his dropping out due to injury.

“Sad to announce that I won’t be competing in the World Cup final, the first Olympic qualifying event, due to a second shoulder dislocation in the last riding training before heading to Ankara.

“It’s the second one in a year and I’m incredibly saddened by this setback, as I was eagerly looking forward to representing my country on the world stage once again.

“The journey to this point has been filled with dedication, sacrifice and unwavering determination. However, sometimes life throws unexpected challenges our way, testing our resilience.

“Although this setback is disheartening, it will not define me. I am determined to be back soon inshallah, more determined, and more focused than ever before. I will use this time to heal, rehabilitate and train relentlessly to prepare for the future battles that lie ahead.”

Al-Gendi is the world’s top ranked athlete in the modern pentathlon. He also claimed the gold medal in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games and the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 June, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly