Ahmedabad, June 1: The PBG Pune Jaguars orchestrated a stunning comeback to secure a 9-6 victory against their Maharashtra counterparts, U Mumba TT, during the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 here on June 1.
The contest saw Indian stars Reeth Rishya Tennison and Anirban Ghosh taking centre stage with their match-winning performances. The spotlight was not only on the Pune Jaguars’ triumph but also on the Dream UTT Juniors, a collaborative initiative between IndianOil UTT and Dream Sports Foundation.
This competition saw the Dempo Goa Challengers narrowly defeat Stanley’s Chennai Lions 5-4, thanks to Sahil Rawat’s impeccable 3-0 victory and a crucial mixed doubles win. Meanwhile, the Jaipur Patriots secured a 6-3 win over the Ahmedabad SG Pipers, with Shreya Dhar shining in both singles and mixed doubles alongside Trishal Surapureddy.
Intense Matches Define UTT 2025 In Ahmedabad
The season’s opening matches were intensely competitive, with international players Lilian Bardet and Bernadette Szocs giving U Mumba TT an early lead by winning their initial matches. Bardet quickly overcame PBG Pune Jaguars’ Alvaro Robles, while Szocs maintained her unbeaten record against Season 6 newcomer Dina Meshref, saving three match points in a remarkable comeback. These victories set the stage for what was to become a nail-biting encounter between the two teams.
The turning point of the tie came when Anirban Ghosh took to the table, first partnering with Meshref to snatch a win in the mixed doubles match with a Golden Point victory, and then defeating Akash Pal in a tense singles match.
This comeback set the stage for Reeth Rishya Tennison, who delivered a dominant performance against Swastika Ghosh, ensuring a memorable win for the Pune Jaguars.
For their outstanding performances, Reeth was awarded Indian Player of the Tie, and Szocs took home the Foreign Player of the Tie, with Akash Pal winning Shot of the Tie.
Final Scores PBG Pune Jaguars 9-6 U Mumba TT
- Alvaro Robles lost to Lilian Bardet 1-2 (1-11, 4-11, 11-8)
- Dina Meshref lost to Bernadette Szocs 1-2 (11-5, 10-11, 9-11)
- Anirban Ghosh/Dina Meshref bt. Akash Pal/Bernadette Szocs 2-1 (7-11, 11-7, 11-10)
- Anirban Ghosh bt. Akash Pal 2-1 (11-6, 10-11, 11-8)
- Reeth Rishya Tennison bt. Swastika Ghosh 3-0 (11-9, 11-10, 11-6)
Since its inception in 2017, Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) has emerged as India’s leading franchise-based table tennis league. Under the guidance of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and the promotion by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, it has become a platform showcasing world-class talent, with 48 players across eight teams vying for top honours.
The league has attracted Olympic, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games medalists, contributing significantly to the sport’s growth in India. UTT also supports the sport through the sponsorship of national ranking tournaments and the organization of WTT events, continuously enhancing its appeal and inspiring the next generation of table tennis enthusiasts.
This UTT 2025 season, fans can catch all the action live, as every tie will be broadcast on Star Sports Khel, Star Sports 2 Tamil, and streamed on JioHotstar. With the action broadcast across various platforms, fans nationwide can follow every moment of this premier competition, which promises more excitement and high-stakes matches in the days to come.