PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese athletes Luo Shuai and Li Shuhuan failed to qualify for the men's modern pentathlon final at the Paris Olympics on Friday, finishing outside the top nine in their semifinal groups.
Luo and Li competed in a field of 36 athletes divided into two groups, placing 11th and 12th in their respective heats, thereby missing the cut for the final.
Friday's modern pentathlon semifinals required competitors to complete four events - equestrian, fencing, swimming, and a laser run which combines running and shooting. Their performances in the first three events dictated their start times for the laser run, with lower-scoring athletes starting later.
The competition will continue on Saturday with the men's final and the women's semifinals. Among the female contenders is Zhang Mingyu, a three-time Asian Games champion from China.
