Will Dabang Delhi Triumph Over Jaipur Patriots in UTT Season 6 Opener?

Ahmedabad, May 30 (NationPress) The countdown to Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6 has begun, with the grand kickoff set for May 31. This season promises thrilling encounters featuring both eminent Indian and international players. The inaugural match will see Dabang Delhi TTC go head-to-head against Jaipur Patriots, followed by a contest between Dempo Goa Challengers and the newcomers Ahmedabad SG Pipers.

Over the course of 16 exhilarating days, the league will showcase 23 matches, culminating in the spectacular Grand Finale scheduled for June 15. The event will take place at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad.

A standout storyline this season is Diya Chitale, India’s top-ranked female player, who returns as the league’s highest-valued Indian athlete. She recalls her journey from being a spectator to a participant in UTT: “I watched the first season from the audience and have eagerly awaited my chance to compete. Finally, in 2023, I got my opportunity, and it’s been thrilling. Every year, I anticipate this event,” said Diya, who will be representing Dabang Delhi once again.

Organized under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, the IndianOil UTT is becoming an elite professional league. This season features 48 players from 14 countries, including 16 Olympians, underscoring the tournament's robust international appeal.

This year's opener holds a unique significance for Harmeet Desai, the defending champion, who will represent Dempo Goa Challengers in his home state of Gujarat for the first time in UTT’s history. “Playing in Gujarat, especially in Ahmedabad, brings me immense joy. I hope to receive strong support here. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for young players to learn from seasoned professionals,” Harmeet expressed.

Making her debut in the league, Chinese player Fan Siqi is the highest-valued participant this season, having been acquired for a staggering 19.7 lakh tokens during the inaugural IndianOil UTT auction by Stanley’s Chennai Lions.

Commenting on the league’s gender-inclusive structure, one of the few in the world, Fan stated, “Both male and female players play pivotal roles in team events. I strive to perform my best and stay focused in every match.”

Youth is also a focal point this season, with 25 Indian players under the age of 25 participating. Notable names include Ankur Bhattacharjee, Payas Jain, Abhinandh PB, Taneesha Kotecha, Sayali Wani, and Yashaswini Ghorpade, all eager to showcase their talents on such a significant platform.

Reflecting on UTT's impact, Yashaswini remarked, “UTT has laid a solid groundwork for Indian table tennis. Our global rankings are improving, and other nations are starting to recognize us as strong contenders. This is a remarkable achievement for Indian TT.”

The international flavor of UTT this year includes players from 14 nations outside India, such as Germany, Italy, China, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, and Egypt, reinforcing its status as a premier league for elite talent.

Adriana Diaz, a pioneer for Latin American table tennis and the second-highest ranked player in IndianOil UTT Season 6, returns to India with high expectations as a member of the debuting Kolkata ThunderBlades. “I’m looking forward to the competition. With new players like Fan Siqi and Dina Meshref, it’s going to be challenging, but every moment in India is enjoyable,” said the Puerto Rican star.

Several high-profile international athletes are making their UTT debuts this season, including Egypt’s Dina Meshref, Germany’s Ricardo Walther, and the USA’s Kanak Jha.

Egyptian star Meshref, who joins PBG Pune Jaguars, expressed admiration for the league based on peer recommendations, “I’ve heard so many positive things about UTT! It’s said to be an unparalleled experience, and I am excited to benefit from this new adventure.”

Germany’s Ricardo Walther, who will play for Ahmedabad SG Pipers, mentioned, “It’s somewhat unique here, but I aim to stick to my game. I realize the matches are shorter, with only three games, so I need to maintain focus from the outset. Each set matters, including the mixed doubles, which isn’t common in Germany but is practiced extensively here.”

All matches of the IndianOil UTT Season 6 will be broadcast on Star Sports Khel and Star Sports Tamil, and available for streaming on JioHotstar. International viewers can catch all the action on UTT’s Facebook page. Tickets for the league are exclusively available online through BookMyShow.

UTT Season 6 Teams:

• Ahmedabad SG Pipers: Ayhika Mukhejree, Ricardo Walther (Germany), Snehit Suravajjula, Giorgia Piccolin (Italy), Divyansh Srivastava, Yashini Sivashankar
• Stanley’s Chennai Lions: Fan Siqi (China), Kirill Gerassimenko (Kazakhstan), Payas Jain, Sudhanshu Grover, Poymantee Baisya, Nikhat Banu
• Dabang Delhi TTC: Diya Chitale, Maria Xiao (Spain), Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Quek Izaac (Singapore), Suhana Saini, Sourav Saha
• Dempo Goa Challengers: Zeng Jian (Singapore), Harmeet Desai, Tiago Apolonia (Portugal), Ronit Bhanja, Krittwika Sinha Roy, Sayali Wani
• Jaipur Patriots: Britt Eerland (Netherlands), Kanak Jha (USA), Sreeja Akula, Jeet Chandra, Pritha Vartikar, Yashansh Malik
• Kolkata ThunderBlades: Adriana Diaz (Puerto Rico), Aruna Quadri (Nigeria), Ankur Bhattacharjee, Selena Selvakumar, Ananya Chande, Deepit Patil
• PBG Pune Jaguars: Alvaro Robles (Spain), Dina Meshref (Egypt), Taneesha Kotecha, Anirban Ghosh, Reeth Rishya, Mudit Dani
• U Mumba TT: Bernadette Szocs (Romania), Lilian Bardet (France), Yashaswini Ghorpade, Swastika Ghosh, Akash Pal, Abhinandh PB