Last weekend, nine referee candidates gathered in Frankfurt for an intensive Advanced Referee Training session led by Match Officials Manager Tina Crotta. Joining her were esteemed Olympic referees Petr Bohumsky, Michael Zwipp, and Werner Thury, who shared their expertise to prepare the candidates for officiating at ITTF and WTT events.

Over the course of three days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on complex scenarios and essential topics such as disqualifications and draw procedures. Personalized interviews at the end of the workshop provided guidance on the next steps for each candidate in their journey to becoming Advanced Referees.

A special congratulations goes to Vincent Blanchard, who successfully completed all requirements—including workshops, mentoring, tournament evaluations, and interviews—and officially achieved Advanced Referee status.

This training represents a continued commitment to raising officiating standards and equipping referees with the skills necessary to excel at the highest levels of table tennis.