Jaipur Patriots Edge Past Delhi in Thriller to Reach First-Ever UTT Final.
In a pulsating semi-final showdown, Jaipur Patriots scripted history by booking a spot in their maiden IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Grand Final, edging out Dabang Delhi TTC 8-7 in a nail-biter at the EKA Arena. Rising star Yashansh Malik pulled off the biggest upset of the night, toppling India’s top paddler Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, while Sreeja Akula kept her nerves in a tense decider to seal the tie for Jaipur.
Yashansh Stuns Sathiyan, Sreeja Clinches it in Style
The momentum swung dramatically when 20-year-old Yashansh, showing fearless flair, beat Delhi captain Sathiyan 2-1. After saving three game points to win the opener on Golden Point, he rallied again in the second game, holding off a late push. Though Sathiyan hit back in the third, Yashansh’s early dominance brought Jaipur level at 6-6.
It all came down to the final rubber: Sreeja Akula vs. Diya Chitale. Sreeja claimed the opening game 11-9 despite a late surge by Diya. The Delhi paddler responded with an 11-6 win in the second. At 8-8 in the deciding game, Sreeja fired a scorching forehand winner — clinching the tie and Jaipur’s place in the final.
A Tie Full of Twists
- Kanak Jha gave Jaipur an early edge, rallying from a game down to defeat Izaac Quek 2-1.
- Maria Xiao hit back for Delhi with a 2-1 win over Britt Eerland.
- Xiao and Sathiyan’s mixed doubles win continued their perfect pairing this season, pushing Delhi ahead 4-2.
But Jaipur’s fightback, powered by Yashansh’s fearless strokeplay and Sreeja’s poise, sealed a dramatic 8-7 victory.
Grand Finale Awaits
Jaipur Patriots will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Dempo Goa Challengers and U Mumba TT on June 15.
All matches are broadcast live on Star Sports Khel and Star Sports 2 Tamil, and streamed on JioCinema and Hotstar. Tickets are available via BookMyShow.
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