Egyptians notched eight medals at The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) 2024 Under-19 World Championships held in Lithuania from 23 to 29 September, reports Inas Mazhar. 

The athletes clinched six golds, a silver and a bronze. Gold medalists included the duo Mohamed Hatem and Osama Zaki in the men’s relay, while Farida Abu Hashem and Janna Attia took the women’s relay. Abu Hashem also won the women’s individual gold as well as the women’s team event gold medal together with her teammates Attia and Alia Enayet.

In the men’s competitions, Hatem, Seif Suleiman and Omar Amer won the team gold medal. Hatem and Abu Hashem won the gold medal relay.

The official UIPM website sang the praises of the Egyptians “who have again underlined the nation’s next-generation pentathlon lineage as the African powerhouse got the UIPM 2024 U-19 World Championships off to a brilliant start with a clean sweep of team relay gold on the opening day of the competition”. 

Just two weeks after racking up five gold medals at the 2024 Pentathlon U17 World Championships, Egypt grabbed another two medals as first Attia and Farida Khalil stormed to the women’s relay honours before teammates Mohamed Hassan and Osama Zaki topped the men’s podium. 

With the obstacle making only its second appearance at a global U-19 level after last summer in Alexandria, the competition was tough. Germany (Cansu Kurt and Nadja Farmand) jumped out to an early lead in the women’s event but were eventually reeled in by a stellar laser run performance from Egypt (Attia/Khalil). Bronze went to Hungary (Dora Krall and Reka Nyerges).

The UIPM dubbed the triumph of the 13-year-old Egyptian phenom Khalil as the perfect start as she chased a remarkable U17/U19 World Championship double. 

Khalil revealed that the competition was tough and very competitive. “It was difficult against the German team so we got to the laser run and had to help each other a lot to succeed. We did it and we got the gold medal. I am looking forward and hoping to get the gold medal in the U19 as well [as the U17]. My goal for sure is to be in Los Angeles in the 2028 Olympics. 

Women’s relay gold medalist Attia of Egypt told UIPM: “I’m super happy because this is the first time I compete in the women’s relay and getting the gold medal is really a dream. It was so hard today, especially the laser run, 11 seconds of a gap to the Germans. I am aiming for the individual event to get a medal as well. Next season I am targeting the Senior World Cup and the World Championships as well.”

Men’s gold medalist Zaki also told the media that he had so much fun on the day. “We did well to be honest in the fencing and obstacle. It’s a great start. I have an injury but I hope I will be good for the individual competition.”

His teammate Hassan added: “Thank God it was good for us. We did well. The laser run was so good but my friend had an injury so it was difficult for him. But he is so good to be able to get to the finish line. Wish us luck for the rest of the week. A first individual medal is my target.”

President of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation and UIPM President Sherif Al-Erian was proud of his young athletes, their performance and achievements. “We are so proud of our athletes who have surpassed the expectations at the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon U19 World Championships, especially our champion, the phenomenal 13-year-old Farida Khalil, who triumphed in the women’s final who broke records on her way to individual gold medal glory.

UIPM celebrated Khalil, dubbing the talent who has already claimed the world junior bronze and world U17 gold this year, has added the U19 honours to her remarkable record. The UIPM wrote “when she immediately set her sights on senior and even Olympic gold at LA 2028 it was hard to argue against her. The coronation of Khalil proved to be a procession but behind her the fight for medals was fierce with compatriot Alia Enayet adding more Egyptian prizes as she held off the strong finish from Coline Flavin of France with Hungary duo Linda Haraszin and Zora Zeman not far behind. 

The men’s U-19 saw two world records fall as a host of contestants strived for all three spots on the podium. South Korea’s Lim set a new U19 World record with his final tally of 1,521 points. Denis Agavriloaie of Italy shook off a slow start to storm to silver ahead of an exhausted Hassan (EGY) who held off compatriot Suleiman in fourth.  Both team gold medals went to Egypt with South Korea and Italy taking men’s silver and bronze respectively, and Hungary and France doing likewise in the women’s event. 

The Egyptian champions shared their victory with UIPM media, starting with the women’s gold medalist Khalil: “I trained a lot to get myself into this position. I worked hard all year, to get the bronze medal at the junior, then to get the gold medal at U-17 and after that this was the last one, so to get this gold medal is to reach the targets. God gave me these gifts and I do my best to get into this position to win prizes in higher categories. I am looking forward to the seniors next year. I am proud of what I did and now look forward to a gold medal in seniors and a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”

Silver medalist Enayet added, “This is so special to me. I wasn’t expecting a medal in the U-19 because this was my last year at U-17 and I took sixth place overall. I am so proud of myself and all my hard work all season. All of my team too have worked hard. This was one of the most difficult laser runs that I have run in. I didn’t have time to warm up and my legs were hurting but I am grateful that I got this result.”

Men’s bronze medalist Hassan also reacted to his victory. “I am good. That race was so hard. I gave it all that I had. The shooting wasn’t good but I gave it all in the running. I started in first but my first shooting series wasn’t good. Today wasn’t my day in shooting and so I must give a whole lot in running.”

* A version of this article appears in print in the 3 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly