IndianOil UTT Season 6: Sreeja Akula Leads Jaipur Patriots’ Charge for First Win vs Chennai Lions

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IndianOil UTT Season 6: After a sobering loss on opening day, the Jaipur Patriots are wasting no time in regrouping as they prepare to lock horns with the formidable Stanley’s Chennai Lions in IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 on Tuesday at 5 PM.

With the tie set to go live on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar from Ahmedabad’s EKA Arena, anticipation is already building for what could be a pivotal early clash in the tournament. Led by the experienced Olympian Kanak Jha and India’s very own Sreeja Akula, the Patriots will be determined to shake off their first-day disappointment.

Despite the defeat, there were encouraging moments for the team, especially from their star trio. Sreeja’s remarkable fightback to beat Maria Xiao—after trailing 0-7—set the tone for what she brings to the table this season. Jha, though losing narrowly to Izaac Quek, still managed to snatch a game and show his mettle, while Dutch stalwart Britt Eerland displayed nerves of steel, rallying from 2-7 down to win Game 3 against Diya Chitale.

Match Details

• Live Broadcast: Star Sports Khel & JioHotstar
• Venue: EKA Arena, Ahmedabad
• Tickets: Available on BookMyShow
• Tie Time: Tuesday, 5 PM IST

“I just stayed calm and kept believing. That’s all you can do in moments like these,” Sreeja had said after her win, a sentiment that now echoes through the Patriots’ camp.

However, their mixed doubles woes are yet to be solved. The team struggled to find rhythm in their combinations, something they’ll be eager to address, with players like Jeet Chandra, Pritha Vartikar, and Yashansh Malik offering tactical flexibility. Jeet, in particular, could prove to be an ace up their sleeve—he memorably shut out both Sharath Kamal and Snehit Suravajjula last season.

Their opponents, though, aren’t short on firepower. Chennai Lions, headlined by the electric Fan Siqi—only the third Chinese star to enter the UTT fold—bring with them a strong blend of flair and balance. Currently ranked 36 in the world, Fan has already turned heads and will likely face off against either Sreeja or Eerland in a battle of finesse versus grit.

Skipper Kirill Gerassimenko adds composure and consistency to the Lions’ line-up. The Kazakh ace, returning for his third UTT campaign, is expected to take on Jha in what promises to be a blockbuster captain’s clash. But the x-factor may well be 20-year-old Payas Jain—once Youth World No. 1—whose explosive game could turn the tide in Chennai’s favour. He’ll be up against Jaipur’s Jeet or Malik in what could be a match-defining duel.

With Sudhanshu Grover, Poymantee Baisya, and debutant Nikhat Banu providing depth, Chennai Lions seem the more settled unit on paper. But if there’s one thing UTT has proven over the years, it’s that momentum shifts fast—and the Jaipur Patriots will be desperate to seize it.