Ayhika Mukherjee ends Polcanova's UTT Season 7 unbeaten run in Kolkata's 9-6 win
Synopsis
Ayhika Mukherjee did what no player had managed all season — she beat Sofia Polcanova. Coming back from a game down and closing with an 11-3 demolition, the Asian Games medallist handed Kolkata ThunderBlades their second UTT Season 7 win and delivered the tournament's biggest upset so far.
Key Takeaways
Ayhika Mukherjee became the first player to defeat Sofia Polcanova in a UTT Season 7 singles match, winning 2-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-3).
HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades beat Ahmedabad APL Pipers 9-6 at the Dr.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao on 18 July 2025 .
Eduard Ionescu won in straight games over Payas Jain and was named Foreign Player of the Tie and ChatGPT Match IQ Player .
Ayhika was named Indian Player of the Tie ; Manika Batra earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie .
In UTT Juniors , Dabang Delhi TTC defeated PBG Pune Jaguars 6-3 to advance to the semifinals alongside UP Prometheans, U Mumba TT, and Dempo Goa Challengers.
Asian Games medallist Ayhika Mukherjee became the first player to defeat Sofia Polcanova in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7, powering HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades to a 9-6 victory over Ahmedabad APL Pipers at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa on Friday, 18 July 2025. The result hands Kolkata their second win of the campaign and pushes them further into playoff contention.
How the Match Unfolded
Ahmedabad drew first blood when Adrien Rassenfosse edged Ankur Bhattacharjee in a tense three-game contest, winning the final two games on Golden Point after dropping the opener. Manika Batra extended the lead by overcoming Zeng Jian in another three-game battle, sealing the decider 11-10 after Jian had forced a final game.
Kolkata's turnaround began in the mixed doubles, where Bhattacharjee and Ayhika dominated Payas Jain and Polcanova across the opening two games to cut the deficit. Eduard Ionescu then levelled the tie with a clinical straight-games win over Jain — 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 — setting the stage for Ayhika's decisive showdown with the previously unbeaten Austrian.
Ayhika's Defining Moment
After conceding the opening game to Polcanova, Ayhika raised her level markedly, winning the next two games — including an emphatic 11-3 finish in the decider — to complete a memorable comeback and seal the tie for the ThunderBlades. It was the first time Polcanova had been beaten in a Season 7 singles match, making it one of the most significant results of the tournament so far.
Individual Honours
Ionescu was named both the ChatGPT Match IQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie, while Ayhika claimed Indian Player of the Tie honours. Manika earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie award.
UTT Juniors Update
On the same day, the UTT Juniors competition — running alongside Season 7 — saw Dabang Delhi TTC defeat PBG Pune Jaguars 6-3 to seal their semifinal berth. The final four is now confirmed: Delhi join UP Prometheans, U Mumba TT, and Dempo Goa Challengers in the knockout stage. Delhi are also set to face Dempo Goa Challengers later on Friday in a rematch of the 2024 final, pitting two former champions against each other.
UTT Season 7, staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, features 42 players from across the world, including 14 Olympians. With Kolkata's playoff push gathering momentum, the second half of the league stage promises to be fiercely contested.
Full Scoreline
HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades 9-6 Ahmedabad APL Pipers
Ankur Bhattacharjee lost to Adrien Rassenfosse 1-2 (11-10, 10-11, 10-11)
Zeng Jian lost to Manika Batra 1-2 (7-11, 11-6, 10-11)
Ankur Bhattacharjee/Ayhika Mukherjee bt. Payas Jain/Sofia Polcanova 2-1 (11-9, 11-3, 4-11)
Eduard Ionescu bt. Payas Jain 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-7)
Ayhika Mukherjee bt. Sofia Polcanova 2-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-3)
Point of View
And Ayhika's victory resets the competitive calculus entirely. What makes it more significant is the manner — a composed comeback from a game down, ending with an 11-3 blitz — rather than a scrappy upset. Kolkata's depth, with Ionescu and the Bhattacharjee-Ayhika doubles pairing firing in tandem, suggests they are the team to beat in the second half. The real test is whether Indian players can sustain this level against elite foreign opposition in the knockout rounds, where margins are even thinner.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the first player to beat Sofia Polcanova in UTT Season 7?
Ayhika Mukherjee is the first player to defeat Sofia Polcanova in a UTT Season 7 singles match. The Asian Games medallist came back from a game down to win 2-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-3) for HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades against Ahmedabad APL Pipers on 18 July 2025.
What was the final score of Kolkata ThunderBlades vs Ahmedabad APL Pipers in UTT Season 7?
HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades defeated Ahmedabad APL Pipers 9-6 at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa. It was Kolkata's second win of the UTT Season 7 campaign.
Who won the Player of the Tie awards in the Kolkata vs Ahmedabad UTT match?
Eduard Ionescu was named both the ChatGPT Match IQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie after his straight-games win over Payas Jain. Ayhika Mukherjee took Indian Player of the Tie honours, while Manika Batra earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie.
Which teams have qualified for the UTT Juniors semifinals?
The four UTT Juniors semifinalists are Dabang Delhi TTC, UP Prometheans, U Mumba TT, and Dempo Goa Challengers. Delhi secured their spot by defeating PBG Pune Jaguars 6-3 on 18 July 2025.
What is UTT Season 7 and where is it being held?
Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 is India's premier franchise-based table tennis league, staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani. The current matches are being held at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao near Panaji, Goa, and feature 42 players from around the world, including 14 Olympians.
