Fifteen English umpires have been selected to officiate at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London this year.

Current Level 1 umpires will also have an incredible CPD opportunity during the Worlds, co-ordinated by 2012 Olympic Men’s Singles final umpire Tom Purcell.

Who has been selected?

They include Olympic Games Men’s Singles final umpire from Paris 2024, Nico Caltabiano, who is one of the elite group of Gold Badge umpires worldwide.

Others have a raft of experience of international events, ranging from previous World Championships and European Championships to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Among those selected are Joshua Reynolds and Harry Jutle, who both have Blue Badge status, as well as Kim Mudge, Jo Outhwaite, Vladimir Shadrunov and Sheila Walshe, who are currently working towards that status, which is one level below Gold Badge. The others hold the International Umpire qualification.

In addition to the English cohort, a number of officials from the Home Nations have also been selected, including Gold Badge umpire Ben Foote of Guernsey, and Jaqueline Williams of Wales, a Blue Badge holder.

Some of the group will work solely at the Copper Box Arena during stage 1B, where 56 nations will be competing to make it through to Stage 2.

Others will work at OVO Arena Wembley, where Stage 1A (the seeding matches) and Stage 2 (last 32 onwards) will take place, or at both venues.

Those selected are (England unless stated):

OVO Arena Wembley: Nico Caltabiano, Ben Foote (Guernsey), Harry Jutle, Kim Mudge, Jo Outhwaite, Joshua Reynolds, Vladimir Shadrunov, Sheila Walshe, Jaqueline Williams (Wales).

Copper Box Arena: Adam Brown (Northern Ireland), Adrian Brown (Northern Ireland), Charles Brown (Scotland), Nico Caltabiano, David Edwards, Peter Higgins (Wales), Chloe Ireland, Harry Jutle, Tom Konarski, Krasimira Krasteva (Wales), Lin Li (Scotland), John Mackey BEM, Jay McAllister (Northern Ireland), Kim Mudge, Catherine O’Neil (Scotland), Jo Outhwaite, Matt Pryke, Meijen Emma Qu (Scotland), Joshua Reynolds, Jenny Sanders, Vladimir Shadrunov, Lester Smith, James Sterling (Northern Ireland), Alan Thomas, Sheila Walshe, Jaqueline Williams (Wales).

Joshua Reynolds, who umpired the women’s final at the ITTF Team World Cup at the Copper Box in 2018, said he was delighted to be selected for the centenary Worlds as the Championships comes back to London, which hosted the inaugural edition in 1926.

He said: “It’s an honour to be selected as an umpire at a World Championships, especially for the prestigious centenary event.

“I’ve been involved in major tournament umpiring for 10 years and have umpired in two European team finals, a Team World Cup final and two Commonwealth Games finals – but this is definitely the pinnacle of my career so far.

“I look forward to meeting old friends from around the world and umpiring some good matches.”

A number of umpires from around the world will also officiate at the event and will be announced in due course.

What are the CPD opportunities?

Two events – one at each venue – will give Level 1 Umpires a unique opportunity to learn new skills while experiencing a major event on home soil.

The opportunities are free to attend for Table Tennis England Level 1 Umpires only – see below for how to register.

Copper Box Arena, Tuesday 28 April (12-6pm)

Part one: 12pm-3pm, London Velodrome, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Part two: 4:30pm-6pm, Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

What you will learn and experience:

• Expedite rule: what it is, how it works and when it applies
• Use of timeout clocks
• Understanding on-court scoring touchpad (ITTF OVR)
• View the training hall and tour the back-of-house facilities for the World Championships
• Ticket to watch the evening session of play at the Copper Box Arena

How the course will be delivered:

From 12pm-3pm, attendees will take part in the CPD training delivered by Blue Badge Umpire, Tom Purcell. This part of the day will also incorporate an opportunity to view the training hall at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals.

From 4:30pm-6pm, participants will be taken on a unique view of the World Championships with a tour of the back-of-house facilities at the Copper Box Arena, co-host for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals.

At the end of the tour at 6pm, delegates will have the opportunity to stay at the Copper Box Arena to watch the remainder of the day’s play.

Please note, there is no parking at either site.

OVO Arena Wembley, Tuesday 5 May (12-6pm)

Part one: 12pm-3pm, CPD and visit to training hall

Part two: 4:30pm-6pm, tour of back of house facilities

What you will learn and experience:

• Understanding the role of umpires and umpire assistants
• Para table tennis specific rules
• Exploring clothing regulations
• View the training hall and tour the back of house facilities for the World Championships
• Ticket to watch the evening session of play at the OVO Wembley Arena

How the course will be delivered:

From 12pm-3pm, attendees will take part in the CPD training delivered by Blue Badge Umpire, Tom Purcell. This part of the day will also incorporate an opportunity to view the training hall at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals.

From 4:30pm-6pm, participants will be taken on a unique view of the World Championships with a tour of the back of house facilities at the OVO Wembley Arena, co-host for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals.

At the end of the tour at 6pm, delegates will have the opportunity to stay at the OVO Wembley Arena to watch the remainder of the day’s play.

Please note, there is no parking on the site.