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Associated Press
Oct. 12, 2002 6:45 a.m.

BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — South Korea won an Asian Games gold medal Saturday in an experimental form of modern pentathlon.
For the men's and women's individual and team competitions earlier, organizers followed the standard format of adding up points from swimming, shooting, fencing, horse riding and running. South Korea won two men's golds and Kazakstan took two women's.

For Saturday's women's relay, however, the running and shooting were combined, similar to skiing and shooting in the Winter Olympics biathlon.

During the 1,500-meter run, each competitor had to fire 10 shots - with 70 meters added for each miss.

South Korea amassed 6,040 points, China had 5,962, Kazakstan 5,564 and Taiwan 4,416.

Officials said the abbreviated format was a test for possible use at future competitions.

The aim was to increase spectator interest and give the athletes the added challenge of trying to calm down for the shooting in the middle of a long run. The sport is trying to avoid being dropped from the Olympics.

Modern pentathlon combines skills a military officer might need to deliver a message through enemy territory. Asian Games competition ends Sunday with the men's relay.