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In a thrilling UTT 2024 encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, rising star Diya Chitale stunned World No. 26 Manika Batra, leading Dabang Delhi TTC to a remarkable 8-7 victory over table toppers PBG Bengaluru Smashers.Despite trailing 7-1, Dabang Delhi TTC staged a stunning comeback, winning seven consecutive games. Chitale's 3-0 (11-6, 11-10, 11-8) triumph over Batra proved pivotal.Earlier, PBG Bengaluru Smashers had dominated, with Alvaro Robles and Lily Zhang securing victories in the first men's and women's singles, respectively. However, Orawan Paranang and G Sathiyan sparked the Delhi-based franchise's resurgence with a 2-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-8) mixed doubles win over Manika and Robles.Sathiyan then blanked Jeet Chandra 3-0 (11-10, 11-6, 11-5), setting the stage for Chitale's heroics. The youngster's impressive performance against Batra showcased her immense potential.In another exciting clash, Puneri Paltan Table Tennis defeated debutants Jaipur Patriots 9-6. Ankur Bhattacharjee, Suthasini Sawettabut, Natalia Bajor, Anirban Ghosh, Joao Monteiro, and Bajor contributed to the victory.PBG Bengaluru Smashers remain atop the standings with 48 points, while Dabang Delhi TTC sits second with 41 points. Puneri Paltan Table Tennis is fourth with 28 points, and Jaipur Patriots is fifth with 25 points.

Chennai Lions, led by Indian table tennis star Achanta Sharath Kamal, made a resounding comeback in Ultimate Table Tennis 2024, defeating Dabang Delhi TTC 8-7 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Sunday.Sharath, the league's top-ranked Indian male paddler, showcased his brilliance in a 2-1 victory over Dabang Delhi TTC's Andreas Levenko in the opening men's singles match. The home favorite unleashed a barrage of powerful smashes, leaving the Austrian debutant in his wake.Sharath's triumph set the tone for the tie, with his teammates following suit. Sakura Mori extended Chennai Lions' lead with a 2-1 win over Orawan Paranang in the first women's singles match. Mori displayed her resilience, maintaining control despite Paranang's repeated attempts to fight back.The mixed doubles match followed a similar pattern, with Sharath and Mori teaming up to defeat Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Paranang 2-1. The hosts sealed the tie in the next match, with Jules Rolland overcoming local boy Sathiyan in a thrilling two-game-to-one encounter.In the final match, Dabang Delhi TTC's Diyale Chitale made history. The Mumbai native, who had previously watched UTT as a fan, secured her first-ever victory in the league in her second year, defeating Poymantee Baisya 3-0.Chitale's impressive performance earned her the Indian Player of the Tie honor, while Mori claimed the Foreign Player of the Tie gong. Rolland was awarded the DafaNews Shot of the Tie award for his exceptional shot-making.Tomorrow's lone tie will feature PBG Bengaluru Smashers taking on Puneri Paltan TT at 17:00, with both teams aiming to make a significant impact in the tournament.