Sreeja Seals the Deal, Yashansh Shocks Sathiyan as Jaipur Patriots Enter First-Ever UTT Final.
Indian ace Sreeja Akula kept her unbeaten streak alive, and youngster Yashansh Malik produced the upset of the season, as Jaipur Patriots edged Dabang Delhi TTC 8-7 to storm into their maiden IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 Grand Final on Friday.
Jaipur will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Dempo Goa Challengers and U Mumba TT in the summit clash on June 15, also at Ahmedabad’s EKA Arena.
Yashansh Topples Sathiyan, Sreeja Holds Nerve
In a dramatic semifinal, Yashansh Malik delivered a career-defining performance by stunning Delhi skipper Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 2-1 — his first-ever win in IndianOil UTT. The 20-year-old saved three game points in the opener, came from behind in the second, and though Sathiyan claimed the third 11-6, Yashansh had already tilted momentum Jaipur’s way.
The tie came down to the wire, with Sreeja Akula facing Diya Chitale in a tense final rubber. Sreeja took the first game 11-9 after surviving a Diya comeback, but Diya hit back with a dominant 11-6 in the second. In the deciding game, with the scores locked at 8-8, Sreeja unleashed a blazing forehand winner to seal the tie and Jaipur’s place in the final.
Earlier Action: Kanak Jha, Mixed Doubles Drama
The tie began with Kanak Jha avenging his opening-day loss to Izaac Quek, coming from behind to win 2-1. After losing the first game 7-11, Jha edged a nervy second on Golden Point and dominated the third.
Maria Xiao drew Delhi level with a 2-1 win over Britt Eerland, and then teamed up with Sathiyan to maintain their perfect mixed doubles record, giving Delhi a narrow 4-2 lead.
But Jaipur clawed back through grit and flair — led by Yashansh’s breakthrough and Sreeja’s finishing touch.
UTT: Growing Bigger Every Season
The IndianOil UTT, staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, continues to grow as a premier professional league. All 23 ties of Season 6 are being played over 16 days in Ahmedabad, with live broadcasts on Star Sports Khel, Star Sports 2 Tamil, and streaming on JioCinema and Hotstar. Tickets are exclusively available via BookMyShow.
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