Beatrice Mercuri, right, leads the women's qualification after day one ©Getty Images

Italian Beatrice Mercuri is the top qualifier in the women's competition, rounding off day one in successful fashion at the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) World Cup in Ankara.

Her total of 1,082 meant she finished top of qualification, one and two points in front of South Koreans Kim Sun-woo and Kim Se-hee respectively.

Britain's Kate French and Laura Salminen of Finland completed the top five on 1,071.

A total of 36 athletes qualified for the semi-finals, with Britain and Italy both securing four spots each.

Kate French is fourth in women's qualification ©Getty Images
Kate French is fourth in women's qualification ©Getty Images

Joining French were Jessica Varley, Charlie Follett and Joanna Muir, who all finished inside the top 15.

Italians joining Mercuri are Maria Lea Lopez, Francesca Tognetti and Aurora Tognetti.

Home favourites qualified too, with Turkey's best athlete being Ilke Ozyuksel in 16th, followed by Sesim Alpugan in 34th.

Also in the top 10 in qualification were Sweden's Marlena Jawaid, Anais Eudes of Belgium, Hungarian Blanka Guzi and Elena Potapenko from Kazakhstan; with Varley placing 10th.