UTT 2024: Bengaluru Smashers smash Jaipur Patriots 11-4 and regain top spot

Bengaluru Smashers took a significant step toward playoff qualification in Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 with a resounding 11-4 win over Jaipur Patriots today, at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.

Spearheaded by Manika Batra and Alvaro Robles, the team from Bengaluru prolonged their unbeaten streak and registered their third straight win, increasing their points tally to 32.

Batra herself added to the flourish by defeating Suthasini Sawettabut in the tie’s final match 3-0, winning two Golden Points along the way and putting on a show for the spectators.

The tie’s first match between Robles and Cho Seung-min produced rousing rallies and sensational comebacks, especially from the former, who became the first paddler to beat the South Korean in UTT.

Captain Alvaro Robles, who trailed both games one and two at the time-out, rallied back to win both games and took the match.

Jaipur Patriots’ Cho swung one back in his team’s favor with a win in the third.

Lily Zhang followed in her captain’s footsteps by securing Bengaluru Smashers’ second tie win, over Jaipur Patriots’ Nithyashree Mani.

Zhang took all three games - 11-5, 11-10, 11-5 - increasing her side’s lead to 5-1.

Nithyashree and Cho then partnered in the mixed doubles round to avenge their previous defeats, beating Anthony Amlaraj and Zhang 3-0.

‘Comeback’ was the theme of the men’s singles. Just as his captain had done earlier, Jeet Chandra twice came from behind at the time-outs to beat Snehit in a clean sweep.

Jeet trailed 1-5 in the first game, and 2-5 in the second, but took the match with an 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 scoreline.

Detailed Scores

PBG Bengaluru Smashers bt Jaipur Patriots 11-4:

Alvaro Robles bt Cho Seung-min 2-1 (11-6, 11-7, 10-11);

Lily Zhang bt Nithyashree Mani 3-0 (11-5, 11-10, 11-5);

Amalraj/Zhang Lost to Cho/Nithyashree 0-3 (7-11, 9-11, 9-11);

Jeet Chandra bt Snehit SFR 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-6);

Manika Batra bt Suthasini Sawettabut 3-0 (11-10, 11-4, 11-10)

What's next on UTT?

Friday’s double header will see Chennai Lions take on U Mumba at 5 pm and Dabang Delhi square off against Puneri Paltan at 7.30 pm.