Ireland’s Arthur Lanigan O'Keeffe topped Group B of men's qualification at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships in Minsk ©Getty Images

Russia’s Kirill Belyakov and Ireland’s Arthur Lanigan O'Keeffe topped their respective men’s qualification groups as action continued today at the European Modern Pentathlon Championships in Belarus’ capital Minsk.

Belyakov scored 1,123 points to finish first in Group A, in front of France’s Valentin Belaud with 1,112 and Germany’s Marvin Faly Dogue with 1,110.

Ukraine’s Pavlo Tymoshchenko, the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist, came fourth with 1,108.

A total of 1,110 was enough for two-time Olympian Lanigan O'Keeffe to qualify on top of Group B.

Russians Alexander Savkin and Aleksander Lesun, the reigning Olympic champion, both ended up on 1,109 along with Germany’s Patrick Dogue.

Olympic champion Aleksander Lesun of Russia is safely through to the men's final ©Getty Images
Olympic champion Aleksander Lesun of Russia is safely through to the men's final ©Getty Images

Defending champion Jan Kuf of Czech Republic and last year's silver medallist Róbert Kasza of Hungary both qualified from Group B.

Italy's Riccardo De Luca, the 2016 bronze medallist, missed out after finishing 24th in the same group. 

A total of 36 athletes qualified for the final, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday (July 23).

Nineteen of those came from Group A, while the other 17 came from Group B. 

The women’s final is due to be held tomorrow.