The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 auction held in Mumbai on Tuesday, 28 April, saw UP Prometheans assemble a formidable squad by signing Manav Thakkar, one of the world's leading doubles players, and two-time league MVP Yangzi Liu. The move signals UP's intent to compete for the title in the franchise-based league co-promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the Table Tennis Federation of India.

Top picks and record valuations

Bernadette Szocs, the reigning champion, emerged as the highest-valued player at 40 lakh tokens, joining two-time winners Dempo Goa Challengers. Diya Chitale retained her position as the highest-valued Indian for the second consecutive year, moving to PBG Pune Jaguars for 37.4 lakh tokens. Manush Shah, Chitale's international doubles partner, was picked up by U Mumba TT for 37.2 lakh tokens, bolstering their line-up alongside retained Akash Pal.

Young talents make their mark

Divyanshi Bhowmick, just 15 years old, became the youngest-ever player signed by a Butterfly UTT team, earning a spot with Dabang Delhi TTC led by Sathiyan Gnanasekaran. Syndrela Das, aged 16, was secured by Dempo Goa Challengers. The emphasis on youth reflects the league's commitment to building a sustainable talent pipeline.

Squad-building strategies across franchises

U Mumba TT, the reigning champions, held back early before striking late, bringing in Manush Shah and reuniting him with Lilian Bardet, while adding Wales' Anna Hursey. Suhail Chandhok, U Mumba TT CEO, said: "Manush is one of the most exciting talents in table tennis today—a left-hander who adds strength in both singles and doubles. Anna Hursey is another exciting prospect who will be making her Butterfly UTT debut."

PBG Pune Jaguars, having opted not to retain anyone, went big for Chitale and paired her with seasoned Snehit SFR and France's Prithika Pavade. Team owner Punit Balan said: "Diya is already among the best players in the world, and we're thrilled to have her as a central part of our plans. Around her, we've focused on building a strong, well-rounded unit."

Dempo Goa Challengers' auction strategy balanced experience with emerging talent—bringing back Spaniard Alvaro Robles, a two-time champion with the franchise, while filling Indian spots with young prospects. Team owner Shrinivas Dempo said: "Having proven performers like Bernadette and Alvaro gives us experience at the top level, while bringing in young Indian players like Syndrela and Abhinandh PB adds energy and potential."

Tournament format and broadcast details

The league will take place from 9 to 26 July at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. It will be live-streamed on JioHotstar and broadcast live on Star Sports Network. UTT Season 7 will feature seven teams competing in a single round-robin format, where each team faces every other team once in the league phase, with the top four progressing to the knockout stage.

Industry perspective

Vita Dani, commenting on the auction, said: "The auction once again reflected the depth and quality that Butterfly UTT has built over the years. It was encouraging to see teams invest in emerging Indian players as a core part of their structure, ultimately reflecting the strength of a grassroots ecosystem that continues to raise the bar."