(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
Umpires announced for World Team Cup
Staged from Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th February in London’s Copper Box Arena located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; a total prize fund of US$ 270,000, the list of umpires is announced for the forthcoming 2108 World Team Cup.

Three men and five women representing the continents of Asia and Europe have been named.

Denmark’s Mark Beckman, Germany’s Christoph Geiger and Italy’s Mario de Fraschini are the three man named; their female counterparts are Korea’s Lee Jeonggeum, Japan’s Keiko Shibata and Belgium’s Isabelle Beumier alongside Sweden’s Ingrid Bogren and Portugal’s Celestes Araujo.

A busy time lies ahead for the officials over the four day period; in each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events four groups, each with four teams competed on an all–play–all basis; outfits finished in first and second positions in each group advance to the quarter–finals.

The six continental champions have received invitations in addition to a further five teams following the concluding position at the Perfect 2016 World Team Championships in Kuala Lumpur. In addition one place is reserved for the host association but in the Men’s event, England qualifies having been bronze medallists at in Kuala Lumpur.

Invited Teams

Men (Continental Champions): China, Germany, Brazil, United States, Egypt, Australia

Men (Position at Perfect 2016 World Team Championships): Japan, Korea, England, France, Hong Kong, Sweden

Women (Continental Champions): China, Romania, Brazil, United States, Egypt, Australia

Women (Position at Perfect 2016 World Team Championships): Japan, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, England

Women (Host Nation): England

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