UTT 2024: U Mumba TT beat Delhi TTC; Ahmedabad SG Pipers beat Athlead Goa Challengers

The IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 saw dramatic shifts in fortunes as U Mumba TT and Ahmedabad SG Pipers achieved significant victories at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium today.

U Mumba TT secured a landmark 9-6 victory over Dabang Delhi TTC in the first match of the day.

The tie was marked by an impressive comeback from Indian star Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, who stunned World No. 20 Quadri Aruna.

Despite trailing 7-0 in the first game, Sathiyan battled back to win the next two games 11-9 each, securing a historic win over the African table tennis ace.

Sathiyan’s heroics provided a strong start for Dabang Delhi TTC, but U Mumba TT quickly turned the tide.

Sutirtha Mukherjee showcased her skills by defeating Diya Chitale in straight games, setting the stage for an exhilarating mixed doubles match.

The pairing of Manav Thakkar and Maria Xiao, despite limited playtime together, demonstrated exceptional synergy to clinch the mixed doubles.

Manav Thakkar’s subsequent win against debutant Andreas Levenko further propelled U Mumba TT towards their first-ever victory over Dabang Delhi TTC in the IndianOil UTT.

Orawan Paranag’s win over Maria Xiao in the second women’s singles slightly mitigated the defeat for Dabang Delhi TTC.

Later in the day, Ahmedabad SG Pipers, making their debut in the league, delivered a commanding 10-5 win over reigning champions Athlead Goa Challengers.

Captain Manush Shah led from the front, securing victories in both singles and mixed doubles.

His win over two-time Olympian Mihai Bobocica, coupled with a mixed doubles victory with Bernadette Szocs, proved crucial.

The Pipers’ triumph was bolstered by Frenchman Lilian Bardet’s 3-0 victory over Harmeet Desai and Szocs’s dominant performance in the women’s singles against Yashaswini Ghorpade.

Despite a spirited effort from Athlead Goa Challengers’ Yangzi Liu, who managed to halt Reeth Rishya’s bid for the biggest margin of victory, the Pipers emerged victorious.

The day’s matches set the stage for more action as Dabang Delhi TTC will face Chennai Lions tomorrow at 17:00, followed by U Mumba TT taking on Jaipur Patriots at 19:30.