UIPM Judges Certification Programme: Preparations for 2023 Asian Games kick up a notch for judges in Hangzhou (CHN)

As China gears up to host the Asian Games for the first time in over a dozen years, the country’s pentathlon preparedness has kicked up a notch. 

Over 30 judges continued their progress during a productive week-long UIPM Judges Certification Programme in the eastern city of Hangzhou last month. 

Having been delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 19th edition of the Asian Games will be taking place in Hangzhou later this year, the continent’s biggest multi-sport event running from September 23 to October 8. 

Modern Pentathlon competition will take place at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center Stadium which will be the scene of high-stakes action with 10 qualification quota places for next summer’s 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on the line, five each for men and women. 

With all of this very much in mind the Chinese Modern Pentathlon Association organised a timely JCP course which took place in Hangzhou from June 11-15 under the expert eye of UIPM JCP Educator and Technical Committee member Andrea Dell’Amore (ITA). 

The course ran in conjunction with the Chinese National Pentathlon Championships, itself a test event for the 2023 Asian Games. In total 31 participants including eight women and 23 men took a step up the judging ladder with both Level 2 and Level 3 certification at stake. 

UIPM JCP Educator Andrea Dell’Amore (ITA) said: “This was a particularly productive course for all involved because it was attached to a key test event for the Asian Games and also took place in the same venues as we will see used later this year. 

“The standards were impressively high and I’m delighted to say that all participants passed. With such a key event rapidly approaching, myself and UIPM are delighted to have been able to help China be fully prepared.”

Chinese Modern Pentathlon Association Secretary General Mr. Bin Zhang said: “China is looking forward to hosting its first Asian Games since 2010 and it will be a big moment for pentathlon too with Olympic qualification at stake. It gives me great pleasure to see our judges preparing so well for this event.

“My thanks to all of the women and men who took part and worked so hard on achieving their certification and my thanks also to UIPM and its educators. We look forward to a great Asian Games in Hangzhou later this year.”