Coyle "over the moon" in Cairo

Meath woman Natalya Coyle picked up a silver medal tonight at the Pentathlon World Cup in Cairo this evening after a dramatic Laser Run.

Uliana Batashova of Russia opened the season in the perfect style by winning her first gold medal.

A dramatic Laser Run saw Batashova advance gradually from 4th to 1st place as the early leaders became stuck on the shooting range. 

Sarolta Kovacs of Hungary had started the Laser Run in pole position but was immediately overtaken by Elodie Clouvel of France, who then froze on the third shoot and saw her hopes of a second consecutive gold medal in Cairo disappear.

Batashova and silver medallist Coyle kept their composure to start the season with gold and silver respectively.

NATALYA COYLE ON THE PODIUM TONIGHT

 

“It feels fantastic – I’m absolutely delighted to come away with silver," stated Coyle, a former Meath Sportsperson of the Year.

"It’s my second major individual medal so what a way to start the season.

“I thought it was a good day. I was a second slower in the pool, but my fencing was good and I rode a clear round. 

"I think everybody had a bit of a nightmare on the shooting range so I was absolutely delighted to come away with second.

“I’m really over the moon with it. It’s great to see that a good winter training has paid off and my major focus is the European Championships.

"I’m aiming to get a qualifying position for Tokyo. That’s the big aim for this year,” she added.