Dabang Delhi TTC dominated Jaipur Patriots 11-4 in the UTT Season 6 opener, led by stellar performances from Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Diya Chitale. The high-energy tie also featured international stars and thrilling comebacks, setting the tone for a blockbuster season of Ultimate Table Tennis at Ahmedabad’s EKA Arena.
The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 got off to a thrilling start on Saturday at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, as Dabang Delhi TTC delivered a commanding 11-4 win over Jaipur Patriots in the opening tie. Spearheaded by standout performances from Indian stars Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Diya Chitale, Delhi asserted their dominance early in the league and sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.
Returning to the team for his sixth consecutive season, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran was in sensational form. He showcased his experience and finesse by breezing past Jeet Chandra with a flawless 3-0 victory in Match 4, Game 2, ultimately sealing the tie for Delhi. His performance earned him the Indian Player of the Tie award.
Diya Chitale, the most expensive Indian player at this year’s UTT auction, justified her price tag with a gutsy win over World No. 43 Britt Eerland. Despite the ranking gap, Diya held her nerve to secure a 2-1 win and play a crucial role in Delhi’s victory. Her aggressive playing style and sharp instincts were on full display, marking a strong start to her UTT campaign.
The opener began with a captivating clash between USA’s three-time Olympian Kanak Jha and Singapore’s rising star Izaac Quek. Although Kanak took the opening game, 19-year-old Izaac launched a stunning comeback with fierce backhand shots to claim the match 2-1 for Dabang Delhi.
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In the next match, Sreeja Akula provided Jaipur with a brief glimmer of hope. After dropping the first seven points, she mounted an impressive recovery to defeat Spain’s Maria Xiao 2-1, clinching the match with the season’s first Golden Point.
However, Delhi soon regained momentum in the mixed doubles, where the scratch pairing of Sathiyan and Maria Xiao delivered a commanding 3-0 win over Kanak and Sreeja. Their seamless coordination and clinical execution swung the tie decisively in Delhi’s favor.
In the final two matches, Sathiyan and Diya put the result beyond doubt with their victories, ensuring Delhi completed a dominant 11-4 rout of Jaipur. Maria Xiao was recognized for her all-around impact, taking home both the Foreign Player of the Tie and the Shot of the Tie awards.
In earlier action at the Dream UTT Juniors, Maharashtra-based teams enjoyed success. U Mumba TT edged out Chennai Lions 5-4, powered by key wins from Prateek Tulsani and Ananya Muralidharan. Similarly, PBG Pune Jaguars secured a tight 5-4 win over Kolkata ThunderBlades, thanks to a decisive doubles display by Atharva Nawarange and Tushti Sood.
The sixth season of UTT, under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, promises 23 high-octane ties over 16 days. With matches being played exclusively at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, fans can book tickets only via BookMyShow.
