UTT 2024 Player Draft: Teams Finalize Squads for Chennai Showdown

The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league is set to return with a bang in 2024, with eight teams vying for the coveted title. The Player Draft, held on Wednesday, saw franchises strategize and select their squads for the upcoming season, which will be held in Chennai from August 22 to September 7.

Newcomers Jaipur Patriots made a bold move by selecting India's rising star Sreeja Akula, who recently became the first Indian to win a WTT Contender singles title. Puneri Paltan Table Tennis opted for Ayhika Mukherjee, while Ahmedabad SG Pipers secured the services of Manush Shah and Romania's world No. 10 Bernadette Szocs.

The franchise-based league, promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, has attracted some of the best players in the world. "We are very excited for UTT 2024. This is the first time we have eight teams, and we want to make this even bigger and better," said UTT promoters.

A total of 48 players, including 16 foreigners, will be in action. Jaipur Patriots COO Imran Shaikh expressed confidence in their squad, saying, "We wanted Sreeja and we got her in the first pick. We have a strong squad and we are confident that we can go all the way."

Ahmedabad SG Pipers' Kartikeya Rao emphasized the importance of a balanced team, stating, "We've enjoyed success in other leagues and other sports with this same formula, so just looking to continue the same thing."

Defending champions Goa Challengers have a new look, with Australia's Yangzi Liu and Italy's Mihai Bobocica joining their ranks. Last edition's runners-up Chennai Lions also made significant changes, adding Japan's Sakura Mori and Frenchman Jules Rolland to their squad.

Dabang Delhi will rely on Sathiyan G. and Andreas Levenko of Austria, while PBG Bengaluru Smashers will have Alvaro Robles of Spain and Lily Zhang of the USA supporting Manika Batra.

The Player Draft has set the stage for an exciting season of UTT, with each team aiming to lift the trophy. The league promises to showcase high-quality table tennis and provide a platform for both established and emerging players.

Tags: #UTT2024, #TableTennis, #PlayerDraft, #SreejaAkula, #BernadetteSzocs