Modern Pentathlon was evolved and developed by an ancient Greece legend: a correspondence soldier was sent on horseback to deliver a message after get the order. He rode across the uneven terrain, through many obstacles. When confronting the enemy's resistance, his horse was shot to death. He drawn his sword, challenged to a duel, the soldier used his gun to frustrate the follower, and then swam across a raging river, finally delivered the message on foot.

Modern Pentathlon was introduced to the Olympics in 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden and came to Asian Games in 1994, Tokyo.

Modern Pentathlon events used to include: shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and running. After Beijing Olympic Games, great changes of the competition rules have been adopted by UIPM. Shooting and running are combined as the Combined Event. Thus Modern Pentathlon now includes: swimming, fencing, riding and combined event.

Pentathletes must wear clothing and equipment as specified in the Rules for each event. Start numbers must be visibly worn in the Combined Event according to the Rules for Combined event and in the other events as far as provided by the LOC.

The four events shall be competed in one day. The final placing of pentathletes is decided by Modern Pentathlon points added from each event. If there is a tie in the total score or it is impossible to determine who crossed the finish line first, the winner is the pentathlete or team who has gained more first places in the five events. If there is still a tie, the pentathletes with the fastest time, or team with the most points, in the Combined event will be declared the winner.

The order of events is as follows: fencing, swimming, riding and combined event. The combined event must be the final event, and always organised with handicap start. The first pentathlete to cross the finish line in combined event is the winner.

Fencing event is organized as a single pool with electric épée. Each pentathlete of one team will meet all pentathletes of the opposing team. All bouts are for one decisive hit. Each bout will be one-minute duration. 70 percent of bouts won correspond to 1,000 points. Each victory over or under this number is in accordance with the number of the bouts, as laid down by the Points table. The pentathlete who has finished the competition without a victory will score 0 (zero) MP points.

Swimming: for both men and women, it is 200m freestyle swimming. The swimming pool is 50m long and a minimum of 21m wide. Pools must be 1.8m deep throughout. For Men and Women pentathletes, a recorded time of 02:30.00 mins is awarded 1,000 points. Each 0.33 second faster or slower than the optimal time is worth +/-4 points

Riding is a show jumping. The athletes should ride the horses provided by the Committee. The lots are drawn to choose the horse to carry out the competition. The competition must be held on a riding course of 350m-450m in length, consisting of 12 obstacles, 15 jumps. A clear round in the time allowed shall give the pentathlete and/or team in Relay 1,200 points. All penalty points are deducted from this sum. In case the Riding Event is terminated, the pentathlete will earn 1,200 points less: i) deduction all of the previous mistakes on the course; ii) deduction of the time penalties, if any; iii) deduction of 100 points for each obstacle not jumped in Individual competition and 50 points for each obstacle not jumped in Relay competition of 3 horses/team. When the total number of the point deductions for faults on the course is higher than the number of the points received by the pentathlete or team for the riding, the overall number of points for the Riding Event equals 0 points.

Combined Event includes a 3,000m running and a shooting with air pistol, fired at a target from a distance of 10 metres. The Shooting competition is in three series. Each series consists of hitting five targets with an unlimited number of shots in a maximum time of 1'10" on a target of dimension 59.5mm. Only after having hit five targets using an unlimited number of shots after a time limit of 1'10", the pentathlete start from the shooting station to perform each running leg of 1,000m; After the first leg, the pentathletes return to their shooting stations, where they must reset their target, (only the pentathlete is authorised to reset their target) and then start the second shooting series that consists of hitting five targets using a unlimited number of shots in the time limit of 1'10"; After the second shooting series the pentathletes perform the second running leg of 1,000m. After the second leg, the pentathletes return to their shooting station, where they must reset their target, and then start the third shooting series of hitting five targets using an unlimited number of shots in the time limit of 1'10"; After the third shooting series the pentathletes perform the third and final running leg of 1,000m to the finish line.

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