Site Products
USATT's Live Challenge: Nikhil Kumar vs Xin Zhou

USATT’S THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE: Zhou over Nikhil

(by Steve Hopkins)

USA Table Tennis conducted its sixth Challenge Series event this week.   The event matched two US Olympians: Nikhil Kumar (for Team Butterfly) and Xin Zhou (for Team Nittaku).  With both players over 2750 in US rating, they seemed to be pretty evenly matched.  Nikhil is the younger of the two at just age 17, Zhou is not just a strong player but also mentally tough and tactically savvy.  When they played last at the Olympic trials, it was Nikhil who bested Zhou.

Nikhil pulled a comeback at the end of the first game, and won the first game 11-10 (using T2 rules, first to 11 wins).  Following the first win, Nikhil started strong by winning the first three points – but the momentum quickly shifted.  Zhou pulled ahead late to win 11-7, Zhou built an early lead in the third game and maintained that lead to an 11-9 conclusion, and gave 4 was the same script with Zhou building a lead early and then maintaining that lead for an 11-8 win.  In the fifth game, Nikhil again started fast, but Zhou reeled him back in and tied the score at 6-6.  After that, it was Zhou pulling away again to close out the match at 11-7.

Butterfly maintains their lead by 4-2.  Next week, Lily Zhang for Team Butterfly will face Aditya Godhwani for Team Nittaku.  The event will remain at the ICC Club in Northern California.

https://www.facebook.com/177724688912490/videos/363854787978816

 

 

Sign up to stay In the Loop with Butterfly table tennis products, table tennis news, upcoming tournaments, tournament results and more.

Latest News

Racket Up All the Time

July 18, 2025
Robot will play RANDOM top spin balls to 2/3 of the table (Backhand), Forehand topspin from Forehand/ middle… Read More

Keep the Swing as Compact as Possible

July 16, 2025
Robot will play RANDOM top spin balls to 2/3 of the table (Backhand, only Forehand topspin from this… Read More

Reviewing Bugller with Logan Rietz

July 15, 2025
(by: Logan Rietz) I love pips.  I like chopping with them, hitting with them, anything I can do… Read More

Keep Your Elbow Closer to Your Body

July 14, 2025
WAIT FUNCTION: Serve long serve to elbow and Robot plays topspin to Forehand, Forehand spin block or counter… Read More

#3 High toss serve that disrupts the opponent’s rhythm and leads to a quick attack

July 14, 2025
[Feature] [Special feature] America’s star! Jha’s strong points #3 High toss serve that disrupts the opponent’s rhythm and… Read More

Ten Tips for Faster Footwork

July 14, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Tie your shoes tight so there’s less give when you move. Grippy shoes on non-grippy… Read More

Rogelio Castro – Third Ball Attack

July 14, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Rogelio Castro is executing the “Third Ball Attack” using his… Read More

MLTT Featured Team: Chicago Wind

July 14, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Chicago Wind plan to blow over competition in the upcoming Major League… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.