City
Epaper

Defending champs Dabang Delhi face Puneri Paltan in UTT opener

By IANS | Published: July 17, 2019 5:14 PM

Top Indian and international paddlers will be under the spotlight as the curtain goes up on the third edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) here on July 25.

Open in App

Defending champions Dabang Delhi T.T.C, led by the current highest-ranked Indian Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (No. 24), take on newcomers Puneri Paltan in the opening clash of the tournament.

Delhi come into the season with a strong contingent that boasts the likes of Romanian Bernadette Szocs (No. 19), Jon Persson of Sweden (No. 72) and rising Indian paddler Parth Virmani.

Puneri Paltan will be no pushovers though. Spearheaded by Chuang Chih-Yuan of Chinese Taipei (No. 28) with German veteran Sabine Winter (No. 62) and India's top paddlers Ayhika Mukherjee and Harmeet Desai in their ranks, they will aim to spring a surprise or two.

More high-voltage action will be on the cards on day two when new entrants Chennai Lions, who possess the country's most experienced player in 37-year-old Achanta Sharath Kamal (No. 32) and German star Petrissa Solja (No. 26), take on fellow newbies U Mumba TT.

The team from Mumbai has the likes of Doo Hoi Kem (No. 12) of Hong Kong and the talented Manav Thakkar of India (U-21 No. 2) in their arsenal.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games double gold medallist Manika Batra of India (No. 56) will step up to the table on the third day for her team RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata, that also includes UTT debutant Benedikt Duda of Germany (No. 53), Matilda Ekholm of Sweden (No. 25) and Sanil Shetty of India.

They take on the rechristened Goa Challengers (formerly Empowerji Challengers) comprising the league's top-ranked player Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei (No. 8), India's Amalraj Anthony and Spaniard Alvaro Robles (No. 56).

The six-team city-based affair will see a total of 36 players in action, including 11 Olymp, 2 Youth Olymp and a total of 25 national champions across all the senior categories, fighting it out for the coveted UTT trophy.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: indiaswedenUTT
Open in App

Related Stories

HealthGlobal Heatwave-Linked Deaths Surpass 1.53 Lakh Annually, India Tops Fatalities: Study

NationalLok Sabha Election 2024: I.N.D.I.A Bloc To Form Next Government on June 4, Says Mallikarjun Kharge

TechnologyIndia Leads Asia Pacific in Data Center Capacity Surpassing Australia, Japan, Hong Kong

InternationalUnited Nations Humanitarian Aid Worker Killed in Gaza Identified As Waibhav Anil Kale From India

EntertainmentIndia to Host 'Bharat Parv' at 77th Cannes Film Festival: Showcasing Creative Opportunities

Other Sports Realted Stories

Other SportsPremier League clubs to hold vote on removal of VAR

Other SportsIPL 2024: Sam Curran's heroics hand Rajasthan their fourth consecutive defeat

Other SportsMichael Hussey launches Super Kings academy at Karaikudi

Other SportsVinesh Phogat urges WFI, Sports Ministry to announce dates, venue, format for trials ahead of 2024 Olympics

Other SportsOdisha CM Naveen Patnaik congratulates Neeraj Chopra for winning gold at Federation Cup