UTT Season 4: Harmeet, Robles star as Goa Challengers beat Chennai Lions to lift title

Pune, July 30 (IANS) Goa Challengers won their maiden title in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 4 on Sunday, dethroning defending champions Chennai Lions in the final at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here.

India's top-ranked paddler Harmeet Desai and World Championships medallist Alvaro Robles made Goa Challengers' title triumph possible as they bagged crucial points to help beat Chennai Lions 8-7. 

It was the maiden title for the Goa franchise, which took home the sparkling trophy and Rs 75 lakh, whereas the runners-up were awarded Rs 50 lakh for their brilliant performance in the season in the franchise-based league is promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI). 

India's top-ranked men's singles paddler Harmeet Desai defeated Benedikt Duda 2-1 to give Goa Challengers a perfect start in the tie.

World No.32 Duda, who was undefeated in the league so far, began the match on a high and showcased his strength with ferocious shots on both flanks. He won the first game 11-6 before Harmeet Desai made a remarkable comeback and pocketed the second game 11-4 to force the match into the decider.

The thrilling third game saw a seesaw battle between both the paddlers as they were immaculate with their touches and fought for every point. In the end, Harmeet held his nerve to win the game 11-8 and clinch the match. 

Yangzi Liu, the first female paddler to score more than 200 points in the league, continued her unbeaten run in Season 4 and defeated Suthasini Sawettabut 2-1 to bring the Chennai Lions franchise back into the tie. 

In the third match (Mixed Doubles), Achanta Sharath Kamal and Yangzi defeated Harmeet and Suthasini 2-1 as Chennai Lions took a 5-4 lead in the tie.

The Chennai Lions pair produced remarkable coordination in the first game to win it by 11-7 before clinching the second by 11-9. Harmeet and Suthasini won the third game through a golden point. 

Robles blanked Indian veteran Sharath Kamal 3-0 in the fourth match of the tie to bring Goa Challengers into the contest. The multiple-time Asian Games medallist fought well in the first game, but Robles was more accurate as he took the first game 11-8 and carried the momentum to win the second by the same scoreline. The game also went in the favour of the World Championships silver medallist. 

Reeth earned the required eighth point to take Goa Challengers to the title despite losing 1-2 to Sutirtha Mukherjee. 

Tie Result:

Goa Challengers beat Chennai Lions 8-7: Harmeet Desai beat Benedikt Duda 2-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-8); Suthasini Sawettabut lost to Yangzi Liu 1-2 (11-7, 6-11, 5-11); Harmeet/Suthasini lost to Sharath/Yangzi 1-2 (7-11, 9-11, 11-10); Alvaro Robles beat Sharath Kamal 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-10); Reeth Tennison lost to Sutirtha Mukherjee 1-2 (7-11, 10-11, 11-6)

Individual Awards:

MVP Of the League Female: Yangzi Liu

MVP Of the League Male: Benedikt Duda 

SuperServer of the League: Yangzi Liu 

Shot of the League: Archana Kamath