By Aadi Nair

(Reuters) -Modern pentathletes are optimistic about the prospect of tackling obstacle course racing (OCR) for the first time at the World Championships in Lithuania this week, as the sport looks to reinvent itself and move on from horse riding.

Modern pentathlon, previously comprised of fencing, freestyle swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running, found itself at the centre of controversy at the 2021 Tokyo Games when a German coach struck a horse.

The five-discipline sport was dropped from the initial programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but was reinstated after its governing body (UIPM) replaced horse riding with OCR.

OCR has already been integrated into the World Cup series this year and will be held for the first time at the August 26-30

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