UIPM Judges Certification Programme: Diligent work and fruitful preparations in Nagara (JPN)

While the elite end of the Pentathlon season has primarily wrapped up, there is still diligent hard work being done behind the scenes across the globe.

With the Asian confederation preparing for a hectic 12 months ahead, the judging stocks of Japan have been replenished thanks to a hugely successful UIPM Judges Certification course. 

Taking place amid the rolling hills of the Nagara in the Chiba Prefecture, a week-long course saw a cohort of 26 participants take their first or next steps on the judging ladder. 

The south of Japan will be a hive of activity in November 2025 when the Asian Senior Championships take place in Anjo (JPN). And the 20th edition of the Asian Games will be hosted across the Aichi prefecture next year, primarily in Nagoya, from mid-September to early October.

Under the tutelage of UIPM Executive Board Member for Sport, Andrea Dell'Amore (ITA), the seven women and 19 men went through two an initial stage of online theory which ran between August 29 and September 22. They then gathered for onsite practice and assessment over five days from September 24-28.

The cohort included 24 students from the host nation, Japan, as well as two students from Chinese Taipei with Levels 1, 2 and 3 all being tested among the group. 

AMPC Secretary General Sangkeong Yeo (KOR) said: “We are all very excited about the busy 12 months which awaits us here in Japan. We are eager to build on the success and growth across Japan and our wider continental confederation. We do, however, know the groundwork that needs to be done.

“Our recent JCP course is an important step in those preparations and proved to be a fruitful week. We are so pleased to see so much energy among our participants as well as those visiting students. My sincere thanks to UIPM for their support. We look forward to two great championships coming our way.”

Andrea Dell'Amore added: “We have said it before, but judges play an absolutely key role in our sport, irrespective of the size or scale of the competition. With two events coming up so soon in Japan, it is imperative to have judges who are up to speed with every aspect of our sport.

“This course marks another step in a broader reform project aimed at elevating the entire international judges’ structure — identifying and developing talent to create a high-level group of international judges capable of setting new standards of excellence in our sport.

“Finally, I would like to thank both the UIPM staff and local organisers for their dedicated and diligent work."