Will Kolkata ThunderBlades Triumph Over Chennai Lions and U Mumba Conquer Ahmedabad SG Pipers in UTT Season 6?

Ahmedabad, June 1 (NationPress) The debuting Kolkata ThunderBlades are set to begin their journey in Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 against Stanley’s Chennai Lions on Monday, marking the first tie of the day. Soon after, U Mumba TT will face off against their Western counterparts, Ahmedabad SG Pipers, in a highly awaited derby.

With an impressive lineup featuring Olympians Aruna Quadri and Adriana Diaz, along with India's young talent Ankur Bhattacharjee, the Kolkata ThunderBlades are poised to make a statement in their inaugural season. Aruna, ranked 27th in the world, returns for his fifth season with UTT, making him the highest-ranked male player this season, while Diaz, returning after a hiatus since 2018, holds the rank of 17th, making her the second-highest female player.

All eyes will be on Ankur, who emerged as a star last season. Bursting onto the scene with remarkable enthusiasm, he secured victories in four out of five matches and won 10 out of 15 games, achieving a win rate of 66.67%, the second-highest in Season 5 and showcasing his potential in a breakout performance.

On the opposing side, the former Youth World No. 1 Payas Jain will be supported by experienced international players Fan Siqi and Kirill Gerassimenko. Fan, the most sought-after player in this season’s auction, becomes only the third Chinese player to join the league, while Kazakhstan’s Gerassimenko returns for his third season after participating in seasons three and four.

In the second tie of the day, U Mumba TT will seek revenge against Ahmedabad SG Pipers after last season’s 9-6 defeat, promising a fiercely contested match. By the time this clash occurs, both teams will have completed their opening matches, adding further intensity as they field newly balanced line-ups for Season 6.

Leading U Mumba is Bernadette Szocs, ranked 12th in the world, the highest-ranked player in the league. She will be joined by the returning Lilian Bardet from France and rising Indian star Yashaswini Ghorpade. For the hosts, Ricardo Walther—coming off a strong debut despite a 10-5 loss to Dempo Goa Challengers—will play a crucial role. His developing synergy with Ayhika Mukherjee in the mixed doubles adds layers of excitement to this high-stakes contest.

Organized by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, UTT continues to establish itself as a leading professional league. All 23 ties over 16 action-filled days will be hosted at Ahmedabad's EKA Arena.