Can Ankur Bhattacharjee Upset World No. 55 Gerassimenko? Kolkata ThunderBlades Triumph Over Chennai Lions 8-7
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Synopsis
Witness how India’s young table tennis star Ankur Bhattacharjee made waves by defeating World No. 55 Kirill Gerassimenko. This thrilling match was just the beginning of an electrifying UTT Season 6 for Kolkata ThunderBlades as they triumphed over Chennai Lions. Don’t miss the highlights of this sensational encounter!
Key Takeaways
- Ankur Bhattacharjee's stunning 3-0 victory over Olympian Kirill Gerassimenko highlights the emergence of young talent in Indian table tennis.
- The Kolkata ThunderBlades secured an exciting 8-7 win in their UTT debut.
- Fan Siqi showcased her talent with a commanding performance, earning accolades in the match.
- The league continues to draw attention with high-stakes matches broadcasted nationwide.
- Young players like Ankur are pivotal for the future of Indian sports.
Ahmedabad, June 2 (NationPress) Ankur Bhattacharjee, an 18-year-old prodigy from India, delivered a remarkable performance, defeating the Olympian and World No. 55 Kirill Gerassimenko with a commanding 3-0 scoreline. This victory marked the inaugural match for the debutants Kolkata ThunderBlades in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6, culminating in an exhilarating 8-7 triumph over Stanley’s Chennai Lions.
Organized under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and championed by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, UTT is continually establishing itself as a premier professional league. All 23 matches will unfold over 16 exciting days at EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, broadcasted on Star Sports Khel and Star Sports 2 Tamil, with live streaming available on JioHotstar for sports enthusiasts nationwide.
The spotlight shone brightly on Ankur, who stunned the seasoned 28-year-old Gerassimenko, ranked 104 places higher, in the opening match with a decisive 3-0 victory.
From the outset, Ankur showcased his prowess: his formidable backhand, statistically the most effective in the previous season, netted nine winners in Game 1 alone. He narrowly clinched the second game with a Golden Point and concluded the match with a polished 11-7 finish, earning both the Indian Player of the Tie and Shot of the Tie titles.
In response to Ankur's early success, Chennai retaliated with their World No. 36 Fan Siqi, the auction's highest-valued player and the second Chinese woman to participate in IndianOil UTT. Fan demonstrated her skill with a 3-0 victory over National Games gold medalist Selena Selvakumar, who was making her return to the league after six years.
Chennai subsequently secured the mixed doubles match through Fan and Payas Jain, who defeated Ankur and Adriana Diaz in the first two games, although the Kolkata duo managed to salvage a game thanks to Diaz’s impressive back-to-back smashes.
The Kolkata team rallied with a strong finish. In the fourth match, former World Youth No. 1 Payas managed to take a game off World No. 27 Quadri Aruna, but the seasoned Nigerian proved too reliable in critical moments, winning 2-1. This left it to Adriana Diaz, who is ranked 17th in the world, to secure the victory.
Facing Poymantee Baisya, the Puerto Rican star triumphed in the deciding match 11-6 after establishing an early 5-0 lead, clinching the tie for the newcomers. For her outstanding debut in IndianOil UTT, Fan was awarded the Foreign Player of the Tie.
Earlier at the UTT Juniors, Sahil Rawat excelled in both men’s singles and mixed doubles, leading the Dempo Goa Challengers to a narrow 5-4 victory against Dabang Delhi TTC. Meanwhile, victories by Trishal Surapureddy and Shreya Dhar in singles secured a 5-4 win for the Jaipur Patriots over PBG Pune Jaguars.
Final scores:
Kolkata ThunderBlades 8-7 Stanley’s Chennai Lions
Ankur Bhattacharjee bt. Kirill Gerassimenko 3-0 (11-4, 11-10, 11-7)
Selena Selvakumar lost to Fan Siqi 0-3 (8-11, 10-11, 6-11)
Ankur Bhattacharjee/Adriana Diaz lost to Payas Jain/Fan Siqi 1-2 (6-11, 4-11, 11-8)
Quadri Aruna bt. Payas Jain 2-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-9)
Adriana Diaz bt. Poymantee Baisya 2-1 (11-6, 7-11, 11-6)
Point of View
I must highlight the remarkable emergence of young talents like Ankur Bhattacharjee in Indian sports. His stunning victory not only showcases individual prowess but also signifies a promising future for Indian table tennis on the global stage. The UTT continues to elevate the sport, and we are proud to witness such thrilling moments.
NationPress
20/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the match between Kolkata ThunderBlades and Chennai Lions?
Kolkata ThunderBlades won the match against Chennai Lions with a score of 8-7.
What was the outcome of Ankur Bhattacharjee's match?
Ankur Bhattacharjee defeated Kirill Gerassimenko with a clean score of 3-0.
Where was the UTT Season 6 held?
The UTT Season 6 matches were held at EKA Arena in Ahmedabad.
Who was named the Indian Player of the Tie?
Ankur Bhattacharjee was awarded the Indian Player of the Tie.
What accolades did Fan Siqi receive?
Fan Siqi was recognized as the Foreign Player of the Tie for her performance.
