UTT Season 7: Szocs seals 8-7 thriller for unbeaten Goa Challengers vs Kolkata
Synopsis
Locked at 7-7 with everything on the line, reigning MVP Bernadette Szocs converted her fourth match point with a topspin winner to seal an 8-7 thriller for Dempo Goa Challengers — keeping them the only unbeaten side in UTT Season 7. Teenage star Abhinandh P.B. again delivered, and Kolkata's spirited fightback ultimately fell one point short.
Key Takeaways
Dempo Goa Challengers beat HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades 8-7 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao on 13 July to remain unbeaten in UTT Season 7 .
Reigning MVP Bernadette Szocs won the deciding rubber against Zeng Jian 2-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-9) , converting her fourth match point.
Teenage star Abhinandh P.B. extended his unbeaten campaign with a 2-0 win over Ankur Bhattacharjee , earning Player of the Tie .
Ayhika Mukherjee won both her singles and mixed doubles rubbers for Kolkata, claiming Indian Player of the Tie .
In UTT Juniors, Dabang Delhi TTC beat U Mumba TT 6-3 ; Dempo Goa Challengers beat PBG Pune Jaguars 6-3 .
Bernadette Szocs, the reigning Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) MVP, delivered a champion's finish on Sunday, 13 July to steer Dempo Goa Challengers to a nail-biting 8-7 victory over HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa. The win keeps Goa's perfect record intact in UTT Season 7, maintaining their status as the side to beat in the competition.
Szocs Delivers When It Mattered Most
With the tie locked at 7-7 heading into the final rubber, Szocs faced Singapore's Zeng Jian in a winner-takes-all women's singles clash. After Jian claimed the opening game 11-5, Szocs fought back to level before holding her nerve in a tense decider, converting her fourth match point with a blistering topspin winner to clinch 11-9 and seal the match 2-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-9).
Abhinandh and Robles Lay the Foundation
Teenage sensation Abhinandh P.B. continued his remarkable unbeaten run in Season 7, defeating Ankur Bhattacharjee 2-0 (11-8, 11-8) with an attacking display that restored Goa's lead at a critical juncture. Spain's Alvaro Robles had earlier set the tone, recovering from dropping the second game to defeat Romania's Eduard Ionescu 2-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-0), including a dominant 11-0 final game.
Kolkata's Fight Back and the Mixed Doubles Swing
Ayhika Mukherjee kept Kolkata in contention, overcoming Syndrela Das 2-1 (11-9, 11-7, 4-11) — limiting the teenager to one game after her headline-making upset of Manika Batra the previous day. Ayhika then combined with Ankur Bhattacharjee to win the mixed doubles 2-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-7), handing the ThunderBlades a slender 5-4 advantage before Abhinandh swung the momentum back.
Awards and UTT Juniors Results
Abhinandh P.B. was named Player of the Tie, while Ayhika Mukherjee claimed the Indian Player of the Tie award for her contributions in both singles and mixed doubles. Alvaro Robles was adjudged Foreign Player of the Tie, and Ankur Bhattacharjee earned the Shot of the Tie honour. In the UTT Juniors competition running alongside Season 7, Dabang Delhi TTC handed U Mumba TT their first defeat with a 6-3 win, while Dempo Goa Challengers beat PBG Pune Jaguars 6-3 to move up to fourth in the standings.
Full Scorecard
Alvaro Robles bt. Eduard Ionescu 2-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-0)
Syndrela Das lost to Ayhika Mukherjee 1-2 (9-11, 7-11, 11-4)
Alvaro Robles/Syndrela Das lost to Ankur Bhattacharjee/Ayhika Mukherjee 1-2 (9-11, 11-7, 7-11)
Abhinandh P.B. bt. Ankur Bhattacharjee 2-0 (11-8, 11-8)
Bernadette Szocs bt. Zeng Jian 2-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-9)
Goa's unbeaten run in Season 7 continues, and with Szocs and Abhinandh firing in tandem, the defending champions look primed to go deep into the tournament.
Point of View
Whose unbeaten run signals a depth in Indian table tennis that UTT has historically struggled to surface. Kolkata's Ayhika Mukherjee, meanwhile, continues to be underrated — winning singles and mixed doubles in the same tie is no small feat. If Kolkata can find consistency in their foreign signings, this rivalry has the makings of a season-defining contest.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the UTT Season 7 match between Goa Challengers and Kolkata ThunderBlades?
Dempo Goa Challengers won 8-7 against HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades on 13 July at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, Goa. Bernadette Szocs sealed the victory in the final rubber.
How did Bernadette Szocs clinch the win for Goa?
Szocs defeated Singapore's Zeng Jian 2-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-9) in the deciding rubber, converting her fourth match point with a topspin winner after recovering from losing the first game.
Who is Abhinandh P.B. and why is he significant in UTT Season 7?
Abhinandh P.B. is a teenage Indian table tennis player who has remained unbeaten through the opening week of UTT Season 7. He defeated Ankur Bhattacharjee 2-0 and was named Player of the Tie for his attacking display.
What were the individual tie awards in the Goa vs Kolkata UTT match?
Abhinandh P.B. won Player of the Tie, Ayhika Mukherjee claimed Indian Player of the Tie, Alvaro Robles was named Foreign Player of the Tie, and Ankur Bhattacharjee earned the Shot of the Tie award.
What happened in the UTT Juniors matches on 13 July?
Dabang Delhi TTC handed U Mumba TT their first defeat of the UTT Juniors campaign with a 6-3 victory. Dempo Goa Challengers also won 6-3 against PBG Pune Jaguars, moving up to fourth in the standings.
