Ultimate Table Tennis 2023: Reeth Rishya takes Goa to final — Highlights
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran gave Dabang Delhi an early lead by beating Harmeet Desai. But the last laugh was had by Goa Challengers as Reeth Rishya beat Sreeja Akula in the deciding match.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Barbora Balazova celebrate after taking Delhi to the brink of victory before Reeth Tennison gave Goa the last laugh.
Goa Challengers beat Dabang Delhi 8-7 on Friday to enter the final of the 2023 UTT season. They will face the winner of Saturday's semifinal.
It was Sathiyan Gnanasekaran who beat Harmeet to give Dabang Delhi an early lead. Suthasini Sawettabut beat Ayhika Mukherjee to level scores at 3-3 after two matches. Harmeet and Suthasini dominated the mixed doubles match but lost two close games as Dabang Delhi moved into a 5-4 lead. The tie was decided in a final showdown between Sreeja Akula of Delhi and Reeth Rishya of Goa. It was Reeth who came up with the goods when it mattered as Goa came back from the dead to claim a win by the barest of margins.
Highlights:
After two hours of sizzling table tennis, we have reached this point. All of the match to be decided in a final game of 11 points.
Sreeja Akula for Delhi. Reeth Tennison for Goa. Momentum is with Sreeja, who won the last game 11-6.
It looked like Delhi would run away with it, but we are all square at 6-6 before the final match of the tie.
After Sathiyan's win, it is Jon Persson who is taking Delhi home. And we have another golden point, and this time it is Goa who manage to get lucky. Alvaro Robles keeps them in the game. Delhi now lead 6-5 in the tie. We will be going into a final deciding match between Reeth and Sreeja after all.
Harmeet and Suthasini looked like they were sailing to a win. Was it a case of nerves? In two games, Sathiyan and Barbora win the golden point and it is Delhi who come back from behind to now hold a 5-4 lead in the tie.
Suthasini demolishes Ayhika in the third game 11-3.
Delhi 3-3 Goa after the first 2 matches. Time for the mixed doubles match now. Harmeet and Sathiyan's second face-off for the day. Suthasini and Barbora their two partners.
Ayhika seemed to lose her momentum as she lost the first game to Suthasini after conceding 6 consecutive points. But she comes back with a vengeance in the 2nd to make it all square in this women's singles match.
All level between Ayhika and Suthasini, Delhi lead 3-2
The third game goes to Harmeet 11-8. Sathiyan wins the men's singles match. But Harmeet does just enough to keep Goa in the game.
No it will be Ayhika for Delhi looking to hold on to the lead as Suthasini looks to turn things around for Goa.
Harmeet makes a great start ton the second game, but Sathiyan is in red hot form today. Comes back from 2-5 down to take a lead. Takes 2 points after 9-9 to take the 2nd game too. Huge boost for Delhi.
And it's Sathiyan who takes the lead in the grudge game. Wins the first game 11-3. Can Harmeet strike back?
Gujarat count on Harmeet and Suthasini
Sathiyan and Sreeja the two big stars for Delhi