youth at the World Laser Run Championship currently being held in Bath, England
Young Egyptian pentathletes have won four gold medals so far at the World Laser Run Championship which runs from 21-28 August in Bath, England. As of writing, the Spanish have come away with a double gold. Host nation Great Britain have won eight individual medals including one gold. There was also one gold medal apiece for France and Monaco.
Laser run is a competition that involves cross country running and laser pistol shooting in multiple sequences.
According to the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM), the Under-11 level competition saw a thrilling duel won by Egypt’s Eyad Osman ahead of Wanru Haasbroek of South Africa, while Abdullah Abdullah shot with sublime speed on the way to winning U-13 gold while Mohamed Sherif was utterly dominant in the U-19 final. Farida Khalil claimed the fourth gold of the U-13 girls’ event, while teammate Maram Hashem claimed the bronze.
European athletes dominated the masters podium, with a strong contingent from France showing the importance of strength in depth including a 1-2 from Julien Bartoli and Jean-Luc Sintes of France at 40+.
The three days of laser run action brought athletes of all generations together as they competed for world titles in age grades from Under 9 to Masters 70+, with a Para laser run race to come on the final day.
With more than 560 athletes representing 33 countries, the eighth instalment of the Laser Run World Championships is a global showcase of UIPM’s most popular development sport.
Egypt’s U-19 winner Sherif reacted after winning the gold medal, telling the media that the race was pretty comfortable. “I’m very happy to win gold here in beautiful Bath. I’d like to thank all my family and my coaches, and I’m glad to be here with you.
“I really like the weather here, better than the 40C in Egypt because here I can run comfortably. It was a pretty tough season and I’m so glad I made it,” Sherif told UIPM.
Teammate, the U-13 winner Abdullah, also talked to journalists following his victory. “I’m so happy that I’m a world champion. I worked hard for this. I wanted to make a good gap so that if I didn’t shoot well, I could make up the gap on the run.
“I’d like to thank my mom and dad, my coaches and my federation especially President [of Egypt’s Modern Pentathlon Federation] Sherif Al-Erian, who put the belief in me that I could be the world champion.”
Osman, the U-11 winner, also spoke after receiving his gold medal. “I’m so happy and I thank everyone who was involved, my mum and dad and brother and a big team of coaches. I made a dream come true.”
The Egyptian Para Pentathlon laser run team has also won eight medals. “I am so proud of our Para Pentathlon team,” Al-Erian said.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 August, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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