UTT Season 7: History-makers Goa Challengers beat UP 10-5, finish league phase unbeaten
Panaji, July 22
Dempo Goa Challengers became the first team in the competition's history to remain unbeaten through the league phase after defeating UP Prometheans 10-5 in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 on Wednesday. The victory capped a remarkable league campaign for the two-time champions, who defeated all six of their opponents to finish atop the standings heading into the semifinals.
Alvaro Robles and Bernadette Szocs starred once again as Goa built an early advantage before Abhinandh PB and Szocs combined to clinch the mixed doubles and seal the tie. While UP fought back through Manav Thakkar and Yangzi Liu in the closing matches, Goa's commanding start ensured they created history as the competition's first unbeaten league-stage side.
Staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), Butterfly UTT Season 7 features 42 players from around the world, including 14 Olympians, while continuing to strengthen the Indian table tennis ecosystem through elite competition and year-round development initiatives.
Goa made the perfect start as Robles swept aside Sudhanshu Grover in straight games before Szocs overcame a spirited fightback from Sayali Wani to double the advantage. The reigning champions then took complete control in the mixed doubles, with Szocs and Abhinandh edging Ricardo Walther and Swastika Ghosh in three tight games to secure the tie and maintain Goa's unbeaten record.
UP finished the evening with two morale-boosting victories. Manav Thakkar handed Abhinandh a second successive singles defeat after the youngster had gone unbeaten for much of the campaign, while former two-time MVP Liu recovered from dropping the opening game to beat teenage star Syndrela Das. Despite the late resistance, Goa comfortably completed a historic unbeaten league phase.
Szocs was named both the MatchIQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie, while Abhinandh PB claimed the Indian Player of the Tie award. Robles earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie honour.
Dabang Delhi TTC will take on PBG Pune Jaguars in the final league phase tie, with the fourth semi-final spot at stake. All Butterfly UTT Season 7 matches will be live on Star Sports Khel (Hindi), Star Sports Tamil 2 HD and Star Sports Tamil 3 HD, and streamed live on JioHotstar in Hindi, Tamil and English.
Final scores:
Dempo Goa Challengers 10-5 UP Prometheans
Alvaro Robles bt. Sudhanshu Grover 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4)
Bernadette Szocs bt. Sayali Wani 2-1 (11-3, 9-11, 11-9)
Abhinandh PB/Bernadette Szocs bt. Ricardo Walther/Swastika Ghosh 3-0 (11-9, 11-10, 11-9)
Abhinandh PB lost to Manav Thakkar 1-2 (8-11, 7-11, 11-8)
Syndrela Das lost to Yangzi Liu 1-2 (11-10, 7-11, 6-11)
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I'm thrilled for Goa, I feel for UP Prometheans - they showed real fight towards the end. Manav Thakkar's win over Abhinandh PB was quality, and Yangzi Liu is always class. But honestly, mixed doubles was the turning point. Goa just have this incredible synergy in doubles matches that others struggle to match. Great tournament overall!
Unbeaten through the whole league phase? That's incredible consistency! 🎉 But I think teams need to start studying Goa's strategy more carefully - they always seem to dominate the first two matches and then control the mixed doubles. If you let them build that early lead, it's game over. Semifinals should be interesting though - teams will come prepared now!
Bernadette Szocs is just on another level this season! Player of the Tie award well deserved. Also happy to see Syndrela Das getting game time against top players like Yangzi Liu - even though she lost, that experience is gold for a teenage talent. This is exactly what UTT promised: Indian youngsters learning from world-class competition. 👏
Okay but can we talk about how Alvaro Robles completely dismantled Sudhanshu Grover? 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 is just ruthless! Goa's foreign players have been magnificent throughout. The only criticism I'd have is that some of the Indian players need to work on their consistency - they show flashes of brilliance but then have off games. Still, amazing to see the level of table tennis in India now! 🇮🇳
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