A table tennis umpire from Guernsey is joining the sport’s top table, after he became one of only 25 people worldwide to get Gold Badge status – the highest officiating level.
Ben Foote becomes only the second person from the British Isles ever to achieve the “prestigious certification”, which is awarded by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
A spokesperson said the Gold Badge was “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”.
Last year Mr Foote presided over the men’s team final the World Team Championships in London, as China beat Japan 3-0 in front of a packed crowd of 7,000 people, with millions more watching on TV and streaming.
