Dabang Delhi TTC bagged the fourth and final semifinal spot in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 with a commanding 10-5 win against PBG Pune Jaguars on Thursday. The former champions will now face unbeaten league leaders Dempo Goa Challengers in the first semifinal on Friday, while defending champions U Mumba TT take on HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades in the second last-four clash on Saturday, July 25.
At the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Maria Xiao starred for Dabang Delhi TTC with dominant wins in the women’s singles and mixed doubles, while captain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran once again led by example to steer his team into the semifinals.
PBG Pune Jaguars made the brighter start, with Omar Assar beating compatriot Youssef Abdelaziz in the all-Egyptian
clash across three games. Dabang Delhi TTC hit back in style as Maria Xiao brushed aside Prithika Pavade in straight games before teaming up with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran to outclass Anirban Ghosh and Diya Chitale in the mixed doubles, giving Delhi a firm grip on the tie.
With Dabang Delhi TTC needing nine game wins to bag qualification, Sathiyan delivered a skipper’s performance, beating Snehit Suravajjula in straight games to seal the tie and book his team’s place in the semifinals.
Snehit Suravajjula’s win in the third game, however, ensured Delhi remained fourth in the standings, setting up a daunting semifinal against unbeaten league leaders Dempo Goa Challengers.
Diya Chitale then capped Pune’s campaign with a hard-fought victory over Sutirtha Mukherjee in the closing women’s singles match.
All 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 Score
Dabang Delhi T.T.C 10-5 PBG Pune Jaguars
Youssef Abdelaziz lost to Omar Assar 1-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-8)
Maria Xiao bt. Prithika Pavade 3-0 (11-7, 11-10, 11-7)
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran/Maria Xiao bt. Anirban Ghosh/Diya Chitale 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-4)
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran bt. Snehit Suravajjula 2-1 (11-8, 11-10, 6-11)
Sutirtha Mukherjee lost to Diya Chitale 1-2 (11-10, 10-11, 8-11)
