Tennis

The fifth edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) concluded with Goa Challengers emerging victorious, successfully defending their title. The summit clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru indoor stadium in Chennai witnessed Goa Challengers triumph over Dabang Delhi 8-2.Harmeet Desai and Yangzi Liu played pivotal roles in Goa Challengers' victory. Desai and Liu secured their respective singles matches before teaming up to clinch the mixed doubles, setting the stage for Goa's historic second consecutive title.Despite their defeat, Dabang Delhi had a commendable season, with Sathiyan G and Diya Chitale showcasing exceptional performances. Chitale, a 21-year-old rising star, stunned India's top paddler Manika Batra in the UTT 2024.Chitale expressed her gratitude for the platform provided by UTT, stating, "UTT has been an incredible opportunity for young players like me. Sharing the court with top players has given me invaluable exposure. Sathiyan bhaiya has been an exceptional captain, always motivating us to excel."Chitale also shared her Olympic aspirations, aiming to represent India in Los Angeles 2028. "The Olympics are every athlete's dream. I hope to win a medal. The training process is ongoing, and I'm committed to improving with each game," she said.Beyond table tennis, Chitale is an avid cricket fan and a staunch supporter of Virat Kohli. However, when asked to choose her favorite IPL team, she opted for Mumbai Indians, citing her Mumbai roots.

Dabang Delhi TTC Triumphs in UTT 2024 Opener, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran ShinesIn a thrilling encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Dabang Delhi TTC secured their first victory of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 season, defeating Athlead Goa Challengers 3-2.Captain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran led the charge for Delhi, showcasing his exceptional skills in a hard-fought battle against Mihai Bobocica. Despite Bobocica's early advantage, Sathiyan rallied back to claim the match in three games.Orawan Paranang also played a pivotal role for Delhi, becoming the first paddler to defeat Yangzi Liu in UTT history. Paranang's impressive performance continued in the mixed doubles, where she and Sathiyan teamed up to overcome Liu and Harmeet Desai.Harmeet Desai, captain of Athlead Goa Challengers, displayed resilience in the second men's singles, bouncing back from a game down to defeat Andreas Levenko. However, Diya Chitale sealed the victory for Delhi with a decisive win over Yashaswini Ghorpade.Sathiyan and Paranang were recognized for their outstanding contributions, earning the Indian and Foreign Player of the Tie honors, respectively. Sathiyan also received the DafaNews Shot of the Tie award, while Bobocica claimed the ACT Fastest Rally of the Tie.The franchise-based UTT 2024, promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), continues on Thursday with PBG Bengaluru Smashers facing Jaipur Patriots.