IndianOil UTT Season 6: U Mumba TT Seal Final Semi-Final Spot, Halt Dabang Delhi’s Unbeaten Run

U Mumba TT clinched the last available semi-final berth in IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6, defeating league leaders Dabang Delhi TTC 10-5 in a high-stakes tie at the EKA Arena on Thursday.

The result not only ended Delhi’s unbeaten run this season but also confirmed the semi-final matchups: Dabang Delhi will face Jaipur Patriots, while U Mumba TT will take on defending champions Dempo Goa Challengers.

All matches are being broadcast live on Star Sports Khel, Star Sports 2 Tamil, and streamed on JioHotstar.

Before the action began, both teams observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands in memory of the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash tragedy, showing solidarity in the face of somber news.

Strong Start for U Mumba

U Mumba TT came out firing, with Lilian Bardet setting the tone in the opening singles rubber. Bardet edged a tight first game 11-10 against India’s top-ranked Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, dropped the second 4-11, but bounced back to dominate the decider 11-4, giving U Mumba an early lead.

In the next women’s singles, Bernadette Szocs continued the charge. After losing the first game 3-11 to Diya Chitale, Szocs rallied to win a tense second game 11-10 on Golden Point and then sealed the rubber 11-8 in the third.

Qualification Secured in Mixed Doubles

The pivotal moment came in the mixed doubles, where Szocs teamed up with Akash Pal. The pair won the opening game against Izaac Quek and Diya Chitale 11-5, a result that mathematically sealed U Mumba’s spot in the semi-finals. While Dabang Delhi clawed back to win the next two games, the damage was done.

Debut Delight for Abhinandh, Yashaswini Dominates

Making his first appearance of the season, Abhinandh PB impressed with a composed 2-1 win over Singapore’s Izaac Quek. Abhinandh took the first two games 11-4 and 11-9 before Quek salvaged one game 11-7. That result was enough to ensure Dabang Delhi still finished atop the league table with 44 points, edging out the competition despite the tie loss.

In the final rubber, Yashaswini Ghorpade produced a statement performance, defeating her World Youth Championships 2023 teammate Suhana Saini 3-0. Ghorpade edged the first two games on Golden Point (11-10, 11-10) and comfortably wrapped up the third 11-3, sealing the tie for U Mumba in emphatic fashion.

Player Awards and Semi-Final Line-up

• Bernadette Szocs was awarded both Foreign Player of the Tie and Shot of the Tie for her match-winning contributions.
• Yashaswini Ghorpade was named Indian Player of the Tie for her flawless showing.

With the league stage now complete, here’s how the semi-final matchups stand:

• Semi-Final 1: Dabang Delhi TTC vs Jaipur Patriots
• Semi-Final 2: Dempo Goa Challengers vs U Mumba TT

The winners will face off in the Grand Finale on June 15, also at the EKA Arena.

The tournament, promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), continues to grow in stature as India’s premier professional table tennis league. This season features 23 ties across 16 days, with all matches held at a single venue in Ahmedabad and tickets available exclusively on BookMyShow.

Final Scores – U Mumba TT 10-5 Dabang Delhi TTC

• Lilian Bardet bt. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 2-1 (11-10, 4-11, 11-4)
• Bernadette Szocs bt. Diya Chitale 2-1 (3-11, 11-10, 11-8)
• Akash Pal/Bernadette Szocs lost to Izaac Quek/Diya Chitale 1-2 (11-5, 7-11, 5-11)
• Abhinandh PB bt. Izaac Quek 2-1 (11-4, 11-9, 7-11)
• Yashaswini Ghorpade bt. Suhana Saini 3-0 (11-10, 11-10, 11-3)