On September 20th, the final of the modern pentathlon at the 20thAsian Games was held at the Aichi Prefecture Anjo Sports Park in Japan. Li Liuchang, an undergraduate student majoring in Sports Training from SHNU, secured the men's individual gold medal with a total score of 1,598 points in the final for individuals, marking China's first victory in this event at the Asian Games in 12 years! Additionally, he collaborated closely with his teammates, helping the Chinese team win the men's team silver medal with a total score of 4,768 points. This record was another significant breakthrough in Li Liuchang's career, as well as the first gold medal for a student from SHNU in the games of its kind.
In the final, Li Liuchang trailed the leading athlete by 40 seconds across four individual events—fencing, swimming, obstacle run, and laser run. However, during the laser run, his outstanding performance in running and shooting allowed him to stage a strong comeback. He secured the top in the individual events and ultimately clinched the championship, narrowly edging out the runner-up by just 3 points.
The new modern pentathlon is a comprehensive event that places high demands on athletes' physical fitness, skills, and mental resilience. After the 2024 Paris Olympics, the modern pentathlon underwent gradual reforms, replacing equestrian with obstacle running, and became an official competition event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Since enrolling in our university's sports training program in 2024, Li Liuchang has achieved consecutive victories at domestic and international competitions, from national championship titles to Asian championships, then to World Indoor Championships, and ultimately securing an Asian Games gold medal.
