(by Steve Hopkins, photo UTT)
India’s Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league is in its sixth season – with league matches played with a similar structure to USA’s Major League Table Tennis except that the coed Indian structure is with the first match between the two top men, then a match between the top women, then a mixed doubles match, then a match between the second position men, and then a match between the second position women.
USA’s top player, Kanak Jha is playing this season for the Jaipur Patriots. He is playing the top male position and has had a great season. His team finished in fourth position and they faced off in the Semifinals against top seeded Dabang Delhi who beat them previously this season.
Kanak Jha bested Izaac Quek 2-1 in the opening match of the Semifinal. Quek started fast, winning the first game 11-7, but Jha won the second game 11-10 and dominated the third 11-3 to give the Jaipur Patriots the initial lead. Maria Ziao evened the match for Dabang Delhi with a 2-1 win over Britt Eerland. Xiao then teamed with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran to give Dabang Delhi the lead, winning 2-1 over Jeet Chandra and Britt Eerland.
This should have set up Delhi for the win, but 21 year old Yashansh Malik managed to upset Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 2-1 which left the score even going into the final match. That final match was between Sreeja Akula for Jaipur and Diya Chitale for Delhi and Akula has not lost a match all season. It came down to the final game after the two players split the first two, but it was Sreeja Akula who remains undefeated – winning the final game 11-9. Jaipur Patriots defeat the top seed 8-7 to reach the Final.
The Patriots now wait to see who wins on Saturday as the Dempo Goa Challengers will face U Mumba TT. The Final will be played Sunday. For more updates on UTT Season 6, visit Ultimate Table Tennis.
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