Fencing, swimming, running, shooting and horse-riding: This Singaporean hopes to do it all at the Asian Games

SINGAPORE: A typical contest first begins with fencing. 

One hit is all it takes to clinch the victory, one minute is all they have.

There is no time to dwell on the euphoria of victory or the pain of defeat. The athletes have more bouts to go through – they must face every single person in their qualifying group.

Then it is off to the pool, where they leap off the starting blocks for a 200m freestyle swim. Some gulp water, wolf down energy gels and head to the running course.

Sand, gravel, track? Doesn't matter. Athletes run five laps of 600 meters, stopping multiple times to fire at targets with a laser pistol – all while regulating their breathing to ensure pin-point accuracy.

The few who cross the finish line first then get to do it all over again in the semi-finals, which are sometimes held within 24 hours.

If they make it to the finals, they not only have to do it again in a shorter time frame – they now have the added challenge of coaxing a horse they have never ridden before to jump over obstacles.

Welcome to the modern pentathlon.

The sport is believed to have been created by Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games. According to the Olympics website, the modern pentathlon aims to define the "complete athlete" with skills in five disciplines, namely fencing, swimming, shooting, running and showjumping.

"The choice of the five diverse and unrelated sports that make up the modern pentathlon arose out of the romantic, tough adventures of a liaison officer whose horse was brought down in enemy territory," says the Singapore Modern Pentathlon Association on its website.

"Having defended himself with his pistol and sword, he swims across a raging river and delivers the message on foot."

A part of the Olympic