Elena Micheli of Italy, who won gold at the opening World Cup event of the season in Cairo is also safely through.

In Cairo she narrowly beat 21-year-old world number one Michelle Gulyas of Hungary.

Gulyas took World Championship bronze last year in what was seen as her breakthrough season.

She seems certain to enjoy plenty of home support in the later stages of the competition after sealing her place amongst the 36 pentathletes who advance to the semi-final stage, scheduled for Friday (April 29), from the original entry of 61.

Emma Whitaker of Britain, who finished third in Cairo is also through in a field which blends youth and experience. 

Poland’s Oktawia Nowacka, who won bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, is also through to the semi-finals.

Eighteen pentathletes are due to contest the final on Saturday (April 30).

Much interest at the event will likely be focused on the meeting rooms, where the International Modern Pentathlon Union's Fifth Discipline Working Group is due to meet.

The group is set to make a final decision on a new discipline to replace riding, and report to the organisation's Executive Board before its scheduled meeting on Monday (May 2).