Can Dabang Delhi Defeat Dempo Goa in the 2024 Final Rematch?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Dabang Delhi aims for redemption against Dempo Goa.
- Key players like Diya Chitale and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran are in form.
- Both teams showcase rising talent in Indian table tennis.
- Expect a fierce competition for early-season supremacy.
- Kolkata ThunderBlades face off against PBG Pune Jaguars later.
Ahmedabad, June 3 (NationPress) Dabang Delhi TTC is set to seek vengeance as they prepare to clash with the current champions Dempo Goa Challengers in a thrilling rematch of the previous year's final during the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 on Wednesday. Later, at 7:30 pm, Kolkata ThunderBlades will engage in a face-off against PBG Pune Jaguars, with both teams eager for their second victory of the season.
Entering this highly anticipated rematch, Dabang Delhi carries momentum from a strong opening against the Jaipur Patriots. Key players are in top form: Sathiyan Gnanasekaran dominated Jeet Chandra and paired effectively with Maria Xiao in the mixed doubles, while Diya Chitale lived up to her reputation as the highest-valued Indian player by achieving an upset victory over World No. 42 Britt Eerland. Moreover, Izaac Quek, only 19, surprised three-time Olympian Kanak Jha in his debut, showcasing Delhi's formidable lineup.
However, Delhi faces a strong challenge from a Goa team that has started the season impressively. Leading the charge is Harmeet Desai, who showcased his skills in a composed victory over Ricardo Walther. The defending champions boast depth with Tiago Apolonia and Zeng Jian both hitting their stride, while Krittwika Sinha Roy contributed significantly with a convincing win over Ayhika. This matchup promises to be a battle between two well-rounded teams, with early-season dominance at stake.
In the evening's second match, Kolkata ThunderBlades aim to capitalize on their strong debut, led by their star trio: Aruna Quadri, Adriana Diaz, and emerging talent Ankur Bhattacharjee. Ankur's impressive win against Olympian Kirill Gerassimenko solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting young players in the sport. Aruna and Diaz, ranked 27 and 17 respectively, played with exceptional poise, while Selena Selvakumar proved to be a promising player despite a challenging matchup.
On the other side, PBG Pune Jaguars are keen to continue their momentum following a comeback victory in their opener. Olympian Alvaro Robles and newcomer Dina Meshref will be looking to bounce back, while Anirban Ghosh and Reeth Rishya were instrumental in their initial match, showcasing the depth of Indian talent present in the league. Both Pune and Kolkata are expected to go all out for consecutive wins in this critical early-season encounter.
Squads:
Match 1
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.
Match 2
PBG Pune Jaguars: Alvaro Robles (Spain), Dina Meshref (Egypt), Taneesha Kotecha, Anirban Ghosh, Reeth Rishya, Mudit Dani.
Kolkata ThunderBlades: Adriana Diaz (Puerto Rico), Aruna Quadri (Nigeria), Ankur Bhattacharjee, Selena Selvakumar, Ananya Chande, Deepit Patil.