Tymoshchenko and Asadauskaite named modern pentathlon athletes of the year during UIPM Congress

Delegates attending the UIPM Congress in Taipei, where the awards were also handed out ©UIPM

Ukraine's world champion Pavlo Tymoshchenko was named International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) men's senior athlete of the year during the body's annual Congress in Taipei, while Lithuanian world number one Laura Asadauskaite claimed the female award.

Tymoshchenko overcame Aleksander Lesun of Russia to win the world title in Berlin to follow on from his victory at April's World Cup in Rome.

Asadauskaite, meanwhile, was recognised for a series of superb performances on the World Cup circuit to follow on from her victories at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2013 World Championships in Kaoshiung.

This came after a Congress, chaired by UIPM President Klaus Schormann, in which motions designed to modernise the way the UIPM manages modern pentathlon and its sub-sports were approved.

This included a "comprehensive review" and update of the entire structure of the UIPM, including changes to simplify and reduce the number of rules on internal organisations, and an adoption of a code of ethics in line with the latest IOC requirements that provides for a clear and efficient procedure in cases of litigation.

A simplification of election rules for all seats within the UIPM was also approved.

Six new UIPM members were also approved: Afghanistan, Benin, Bermuda, Colombia, Indonesia and Madagascar.

UIPM President Klaus Schormann (second right) pictured during the UIPM Congress ©UIPM

"With a strong vision, with a clear understanding that change is a certainty, and with a total commitment by all the family, modern pentathlon can and will be successful in retaining and gaining on its position after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and, in fact, being considered as an essential part of the Olympic programme and one of the International Federations that has adapted itself successfully to the challenges of these times," said UIPM secretary general Shiny Fang.

"As we continuously improve our structures centrally and in every country, 'expanding' our reach is our real next frontier.

"The right choices in this area will make a huge difference in the lead up to Tokyo 2020, when the IOC will once again review the sports programme, and in the long run, also beyond 2020."

Szekesférhérvar in Hungary was awarded hosting rights for the 2017 World Junior Championships, while Drzonkow in Poland will host the third stop on the UIPM World Cup series that year.

Los Angeles, Cairo, Bath and Kecskemet in Hungary will host legs on the 2018 World Cup series.

The 2018 UIPM Congress will be in Barcelona.

Elsewhere during the awards, Russia's Oleg Naumov and Britain's Francesca Summers received the male and female junior honours, while Russia were named best team.

France's Jean-Pierre Guyomarch was named best coach after overseeing two Rio 2016 Olympic-qualified athletes, Valentin Prades and Valentin Belaud.

Pentathlon Canada received the best contribution award for their organising of competition at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.