(by Steve Hopkins, photo UTT)
In the final match of India’s Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) is was U Mumba TT defeating the Jaipur Patriots to take the league title. As in the Semifinal match, Benadette Szocs led the way for her Mumba team – this time having a part in 5 of her team’s 8 total points. For American fans, they’ve been watching Jaipur because Kanak Jha has been playing the top position, though in the Final he only managed a single point as his squad scored four in a losing effort.
In the first match of the Final, Frenchman Lilian Bardet bested Kanak Jha 2-1. Bernadette Szocs then extended the lead for Mumba with a 2-1 win over Sreeja Akula – giving Mumba a 4-2 lead. Bernadette Szocs and Akash Pal then teamed up for the mixed doubles match and they logged a dominant 3-0 win over Jeet Chandra and Britt Eerland. This effectively sealed the victory as Mumba had two matches remaining (6 games) and only needed one more won game. That game came in the next match as Mumba’s PB Abhinandh finished 1-2, losing to Jeet Chandra but doing just enough to secure the 8th win and the team victory.
The UTT is in its sixth season – with league matches played with a similar structure to USA’s Major League Table Tennis except that the coed Indian structure is with the first match between the two top men, then a match between the top women, then a mixed doubles match, then a match between the second position men, and then a match between the second position women. In the UTT, men and women have an equal effect on the outcome of the match. For Mumba, this has enabled Bernadette Szocs to be their strongest player – as she has dominated the league’s women. For more updates on UTT Season 6, visit Ultimate Table Tennis.
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