UTT 2024 Results: Newcomers Ahmedabad SG Pipers Stun Goa Challengers After U Mumba Beat Dabang Delhi

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Captain Manush Shah led Ahmedabad SG Pipers from the front as the debutants recorded their first win of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024, beating the defending champions at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Saturday (August 24).

Shah beat two-time Olympian Mihai Bobocica 2-1 in their match - after partnering Bernadette Szocs to achieve the same scoreline in the mixed doubles - as the team from Ahmedabad saw off reigning champions Athlead Goa Challengers.

Ahmedabad SG Pipers flew off the blocks, courtesy of an outstanding display from Frenchman Lilian Bardet, who made amends for his defeat yesterday to 17-year-old Ankur Bhattacharjee by beating Harmeet Desai 3-0 in the first men's singles.

Bernadette Szocs followed in her teammate's footsteps, bouncing back from her loss against Ayhika Mukherjee with a sweeping victory over young Yashaswini Ghorpade in the first women's singles match of the tie.

The mixed doubles followed next, where the pairing of Manush and Szocs outfoxed Harmeet and Yangzi Liu for a 2-1 win, handing the tie to the Season 5 debutants.

Following Manush's win over Bobocica, Reeth Rishya found herself in a position to make history for Ahmedabad SG Pipers by securing the biggest margin of victory in a tie.

However, Liu denied Reeth the team record by continuing her unbeaten streak that stretches back to the start of the previous season. Here is a look at the detailed results from Goa Challengers vs Ahmedabad SG Pipers in UTT:

UTT 2024 Results from August 24, 2024: Ahmedabad SG Pipers beat Athlead Goa Challengers 10-5

• Men's Singles: Lilian Bardet beat Harmeet Desai 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-6)
• Women's Singles: Bernadette Szocs beat Yashaswini Ghorpade 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-3)
• Mixed Doubles: Manush/Szocs beat Harmeet/Liu 2-1 (4-11, 11-10, 11-9)
• Men's Singles: Manush Shah beat Mihai Bobocica 2-1 (11-7, 11-7, 10-11)
• Women's Singles: Reeth Rishya lost to Yangzi Liu 0-3 (6-11, 5-11, 5-11)

U Mumba Beat Dabang Delhi Despite Sathiyan Stunning Aruna

Experienced Indian paddler Sathiyan Gnanasekaran kicked off his historic fifth season in Dabang Delhi TTC colours with a sensational come-from-behind win over World no. 20 Quadri Aruna, the highest-ranked male player.

However, Dabang Delhi could not avoid defeat after U Mumba TT recorded their first-ever win in UTT by 9-6. Sathiyan found it difficult to get a foothold in his first game of the season and trailed 7-0 right at the start against his much higher-ranked opponent.

Aruna took the game easily, but the Indian Olympian bounced back with a sturdy defence and assertive smashers in games 2 and 3, winning by twin 11-9 scorelines to claim the match. Sathiyan's win over Aruna was his first against the African table tennis great in his career.

Despite Sathiyan's strong start for Dabang Delhi TTC, Sutirtha Mukherjee wrested back control of the tie for her team U Mumba TT in the first women's singles match. Sutirtha beat youngster Diya Chitale in three straight games, setting the platform for an enticing mixed doubles bout.

Sathiyan returned to the table for the mixed doubles alongside partner Orawan Paranag. Meanwhile, the round saw the first appearance of the season for Manav Thakkar, as well as Spaniard Maria Xiao.

Despite their limited interaction so far, Manav and Xiao showed impeccable coordination to claim the match in U Mumba TT's favour, putting their team on the cusp of a historic win.

Manav returned to beat debutant Andreas Levenko, winning the tie for U Mumba TT, while Orawan Paranang defeated Xiao to reduce the weight of the loss. Here is a look at the detailed results from Dabang Delhi vs U Mumba in UTT:

UTT 2024 Results from August 24, 2024: U Mumba TT beat Dabang Delhi TTC 9-6

• Men's Singles: Quadri Aruna lost to Sathiyan G 1-2 (11-4, 9-11, 9-11)
• Women's Singles: Sutirtha Mukherjee beat Diya Chitale 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-4)
• Mixed Doubles: Manav/Xiao beat Sathiyan/Orawan 2-1 (11-8, 11-9, 8-11)
• Men's Singles: Manav Thakkar beat Andreas Levenko 2-1 (11-5, 11-4, 7-11)
• Women's Singles: Maria Xiao lost to Orawan Paranag 1-2 (11-10, 9-11, 5-11)