Ilya Palazkov topped the standings as qualification for the men's final was held at the International Modern Pentathlon Union World Championships ©UIPM

Ilya Palazkov topped the standings as qualification for the men's final was held at the International Modern Pentathlon Union World Championships in Cairo.

The Belarus athlete scored 1,063 points with 17 fencing victories helping his assent to the summit.

This was the second best performance with the sword, while he also came 14th in the swim and 10th in the run/shoot, with no riding held.

Thirty-six men have qualified for the final in all, which will take place on Saturday (August 26).

Alexsander Lesun qualified strongly in Cairo ©Getty Images
Alexsander Lesun qualified strongly in Cairo ©Getty Images

Ukraine's Pavlo Tymoshcenko, the Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016, was the second-best qualifier, scoring 1,057.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion Alexsander Lesun also qualified strongly, tallying 1,055.

Lesun is hoping to improve on the silver medal he won last year in Moscow and clinch a third individual world gold.

Egypt's Yasser Hefny also scored 1,055 after a strong day.

France's defending world champion Valentin Belaud is safely through after finishing on 1,049.

Women's qualification will take place in Cairo tomorrow.