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Guernsey table tennis umpire joins sport’s officiating elite

Local table tennis umpire Ben Foote has been promoted to Gold Badge status, the highest officiating level awarded by the International Table Tennis Federation.

Guernsey umpire Ben Foote in the chair for the men’s team final between China and Japan at the World Team Championships 2026.
Guernsey umpire Ben Foote in the chair for the men’s team final between China and Japan at the World Team Championships 2026. / Picture supplied

Foote joins an elite group of only 25 people globally and becomes only the second umpire from the British Isles ever to achieve the prestigious certification.

Gold Badge is the pinnacle of international officiating, requiring umpires to pass the ITTF Advanced Rules Exam and maintain exceptional performance scores while being assessed at major world competitions.

Foote’s promotion follows his return from the World Team Championships in London, where he officiated the men’s team final between China and Japan.

He was selected for the gold-medal match alongside Sweden’s Ingrid Bogren, in front of a packed crowd of 7,000 fans at Wembley Arena, as well as millions more watching via global television and streaming coverage.

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