New Delhi, April 25: In a major development ahead of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7, veteran Indian paddlers Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra have been officially retained by their respective franchises, while top Indian talents Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale re-enter the player auction pool. The UTT Season 7 auction is scheduled for April 28 at Sahara Star, Mumbai, with the league itself set to run from July 9 to July 26 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa.

Retentions and Key Franchise Decisions

Dabang Delhi TTC chose to retain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, extending his association with the franchise into a record seventh consecutive season — a remarkable milestone in the league's history that underscores his consistency and value as a marquee player. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad APL Pipers retained Manika Batra, who missed the previous edition due to injury and now makes a highly anticipated return to the league.

Beyond the two headline retentions, Kolkata Thunderblades retained Ankur Bhattacharjee, while U Mumba TT held on to doubles specialist Akash Pal. In contrast, Dempo Goa Challengers and PBG Pune Jaguars opted against exercising their retention rights, meaning both franchises — along with newly inducted side UP Prometheans — will head into the auction with a full purse of 1 crore tokens.

Manav, Manush & Diya: The High-Profile Returns

Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah return to the UTT auction pool after a one-year absence owing to intensive international commitments. The duo is currently ranked World No. 5 in men's doubles and remains a fixture on the global circuit, making them among the most sought-after Indian names at the auction.

Manush Shah also partners with Diya Chitale in mixed doubles — a combination ranked World No. 6 globally. Notably, the pair made history as the first Indians to qualify for the WTT Finals, adding enormous prestige to their profiles heading into the bidding war.

Diya Chitale, who was the most expensive pick in last season's UTT auction, re-enters the pool this year after Dabang Delhi TTC chose Sathiyan over her in their retention slot. Her return is expected to trigger intense bidding among franchises eager to secure one of India's most dynamic women's players.

Auction Format and Prize Pool Structure

The April 28 auction at Sahara Star, Mumbai will follow a structured four-tier format with revised base prices: 20 lakh tokens, 12 lakh tokens, 7 lakh tokens, and 3 lakh tokens. Bidding increments are set at 20,000 tokens, ensuring competitive and granular bidding across all player categories.

Each franchise has been allocated a total purse of 1 crore tokens to build their squads, with franchises that exercised retentions having correspondingly reduced budgets going into the open auction rounds.

International Stars and Rising Indian Talent

The international contingent for Butterfly UTT Season 7 brings both fresh faces and familiar names. New entrants include Adrien Rassenfosse, Eduard Ionescu, Nicholas Lum, and Youssef Abdelaziz. Returning international players include Bernadette Szocs, Quadri Aruna, Alvaro Robles, and Yangzi Liu, ensuring global quality across all squads.

Welsh paddler Anna Hursey could create history by becoming the first player from Wales to feature in Butterfly UTT if picked at the auction, while France's Prithika Pavade adds further depth to an already competitive women's pool.

On the domestic front, the most compelling new entrant is prodigy Divyanshi Bhowmick, who enters the auction pool for the first time. Bhowmick made national headlines by winning gold in the U15 girls' singles at the 2025 Asian Cadet Championships — the first Indian to achieve this feat in 36 years — and followed it with a bronze medal at the 2025 World Youth Championships.

Promoters' Vision and League's Growing Stature

The franchise-based league is promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). Commenting on the player pool, UTT Co-Promoter Niraj Bajaj stated: "It's exciting to see such a strong and diverse player pool for Season 7. The return of top Indian players like Manav, Manush, and Manika, combined with a competitive international field, reflects the growing depth and quality of table tennis associated with Butterfly UTT. The mix of experienced names and emerging talent will make for a highly competitive auction and an exciting season ahead."

The UTT has steadily grown into one of India's most credible franchise-based sports leagues, providing Indian paddlers with high-intensity competitive exposure that directly contributes to their international rankings and performances. With Season 7 set to kick off in Goa on July 9, all eyes will first turn to the April 28 auction in Mumbai, where franchise strategies will be revealed and the competitive landscape for the upcoming edition will take shape.