IndianOil UTT Season 6: Sreeja Akula, Kanak Jha Star as Jaipur Patriots Clinch First Win Despite Late Chennai Lions Surge
Jaipur Patriots kickstarted their IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 campaign with a commanding 9-6 win over Stanley’s Chennai Lions, thanks to standout performances by USA’s Kanak Jha and India’s Sreeja Akula. Despite a spirited comeback from Chennai late in the tie, Jaipur’s early dominance ensured they walked away with their first victory of the season.
Played at Ahmedabad’s EKA Arena, the high-octane clash was broadcast live on Star Sports Khel and Star Sports 2 Tamil and streamed on JioHotstar. The match lived up to the billing, delivering drama, momentum shifts, and top-tier shot-making in front of a vibrant crowd.
Kanak Jha etched his name in UTT history by becoming the first player to win a match using three Golden Points, sealing a 3-0 victory (11-10, 11-10, 11-10) over Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko. Not to be outdone, India’s top-ranked female paddler Sreeja Akula delivered a clinical 3-0 win over national gold medalist Poymantee Baisya, handing Jaipur a commanding 6-0 lead.
Promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), IndianOil UTT continues to cement its status as India’s premier professional table tennis league. This season features 23 high-intensity ties across 16 days, all staged at a single venue with tickets exclusively available via BookMyShow.
The momentum continued for Jaipur as Jha and Sreeja teamed up for the mixed doubles, defeating Payas Jain and Fan Siqi 2-1 (11-4, 11-7, 8-11). With that win, the Patriots secured an unassailable lead, wrapping up the tie with flair and chemistry.
However, Chennai Lions refused to go quietly. Young Delhi paddler Payas Jain brought his team back into contention with a dominant 3-0 (11-10, 11-5, 11-7) win over Yashansh Malik in the fourth rubber. League’s top-priced player Fan Siqi then added two more games to Chennai’s tally with a 2-1 (11-8, 11-6, 7-11) victory over Dutch Olympian Britt Eerland.
While the tie result was already decided, Chennai’s late charge earned them six valuable games—potentially decisive in the context of league standings, where every game counts.
Sreeja Akula capped off her night by bagging the Indian Player of the Tie and Shot of the Tie awards, while Kanak Jha was named Foreign Player of the Tie for his historic and impactful performance.
Photos : Ankur Salvi / Focus Sports / UTT
Dream UTT Juniors: Future Stars on Display
Earlier in the day, the Dream UTT Juniors—an initiative by IndianOil UTT in partnership with Dream Sports Foundation—witnessed dominant performances from Kolkata ThunderBlades and Dempo Goa Challengers. Both sides registered identical 7-2 wins over Dabang Delhi TTC and PBG Pune Jaguars respectively.
For Kolkata, Ritvik Gupta and Swara Karmakar starred with singles wins and a strong doubles outing. Dempo Goa’s Sahil Rawat and Aarya Redkar delivered flawless performances, underlining the growing depth in Indian table tennis talent.
Match Summary: Jaipur Patriots 9-6 Stanley’s Chennai Lions
- Kanak Jha bt Kirill Gerassimenko: 3-0 (11-10, 11-10, 11-10)
- Sreeja Akula bt Poymantee Baisya: 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-9)
- Jha/Sreeja bt Payas/Fan Siqi: 2-1 (11-4, 11-7, 8-11)
- Yashansh Malik lost to Payas Jain: 0-3 (10-11, 5-11, 7-11)
- Britt Eerland lost to Fan Siqi: 1-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-7)
About Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT)
Launched in 2017, Ultimate Table Tennis is India’s first and only franchise-based table tennis league, founded by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the Table Tennis Federation of India. UTT has grown into a globally respected competition, attracting Olympic, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games medalists. The league has played a significant role in elevating the sport’s profile in India, with initiatives like the Dream UTT Juniors, co-organising WTT events, and supporting national tournaments. With world-class athletes, dramatic matchups, and a commitment to youth development, UTT continues to shape the future of Indian table tennis.
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