Did U Mumba TT Secure Their First UTT Title with an 8-4 Triumph Over Jaipur Patriots?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- U Mumba TT wins their first UTT title.
- Impressive teamwork led to an 8-4 victory over Jaipur Patriots.
- Bernadette Szocs and Lilian Bardet were standout performers.
- Coaches John Murphy and Jay Modak played vital roles.
- The event featured many dignitaries and notable guests.
Ahmedabad, June 15 (NationPress) U Mumba TT has made history by winning their first-ever Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) title, defeating Jaipur Patriots with an impressive score of 8-4 in the grand finale of Season 6 on Sunday. This victory was marked by remarkable teamwork and standout performances.
Early victories by Lilian Bardet and Bernadette Szocs set the tone for U Mumba, who quickly gained momentum. Szocs and Akash Pal dominated the mixed doubles, securing a 3-0 win, bringing the team one step closer to victory. The title was clinched by teenager Abhinandh PB, who delivered a crucial win in the fourth match. Although Yashaswini Ghorpade was absent from the final, her exceptional performance in the semi-finals illustrated U Mumba’s overall prowess this season, a campaign expertly guided by coaches John Murphy and Jay Modak.
For their exceptional performances, Akash and Szocs were honored as the Indian and Foreign Player of the Final, respectively, while Jeet Chandra received the Shot of the Final award.
Bardet got U Mumba off to a strong start by rallying back to defeat Kanak Jha 2-1 after losing the first game. This momentum continued into a thrilling match between top players, Szocs and Sreeja Akula. Szocs exhibited remarkable defense and composure to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory, handing Sreeja her first loss this season.
In the mixed doubles, Szocs and Akash were in commanding form, easily overcoming Jeet and Britt Eerland. The U Mumba duo displayed dominance, swinging from 5-5 to 11-5 in the second game and finishing the third with the same score.
As the tie reached a critical point, Jeet kept Jaipur Patriots in contention by winning the first two games against Abhinandh. However, the 17-year-old exhibited great poise in a tense third game, eventually winning 11-8, thereby securing U Mumba TT’s inaugural UTT title with an overall score of 8-4.
In recognition of their standout performances throughout the season, Harmeet Desai of Dempo Goa Challengers and Bernadette Szocs of U Mumba TT were awarded the Male and Female MVPs of UTT Season 6, respectively. The Shot of the League was awarded to Adriana Diaz for her remarkable winner against Krittwika Sinha Roy during the league stage.
The final event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including UTT co-promoters Vita Dani and Niraj Bajaj, TTFI Secretary General Kamlesh Mehta, and Arjuna awardee Monalisa Mehta, along with Steve Dainton and Leandro Olvech from ITTF. Senior officials from IndianOil, including Sanjib Behera and Ashok Jain, were also present, alongside other notable guests who participated in honoring the season's standout performers.
Final scores:
U Mumba TT 8-4 Jaipur Patriots
Lilian Bardet bt. Kanak Jha 2-1 (4-11, 11-5, 11-7)
Bernadette Szocs bt. Sreeja Akula 2-1 (11-9, 10-11, 11-5)
Akash Pal/Bernadette Szocs bt. Jeet Chandra/Britt Eerland 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-5)
Abhinandh PB lost to Jeet Chandra 1-2 (5-11, 8-11, 11-8)