On Wednesday, Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) franchises meticulously crafted their squads for the 2024 season at the Player Draft held in Mumbai. With the upcoming season set to take place from August 22 to September 7 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, the draft marked a significant step in assembling competitive teams for the league’s first season featuring eight franchises.
For the first time, UTT welcomed newcomers Jaipur Patriots and Ahmedabad SG Pipers, adding fresh dynamics to the league. Jaipur Patriots, with the first pick in Round 1, selected in-form Indian star and World No. 25 Sreeja Akula, recently the first Indian to win a WTT Contender singles title. On the other hand, Puneri Paltan Table Tennis, which opted not to retain any players, chose Ayhika Mukherjee to kick off their draft.
Ahmedabad SG Pipers strategically selected Manush Shah as their first pick, followed by the women’s World No. 10 Bernadette Szocs from Romania in the second round, aiming to create a balanced and formidable team.
The franchise-based league is promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, operating under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).
Reflecting on the draft, they stated, “Ultimate Table Tennis’ only aim is to help Indian table tennis progress and we are focused on creating a platform that goes beyond the league, supporting the entire ecosystem, including coaches, academies, and tournaments. Today’s Player Draft is a testimony to the fact that some of the best players in the world now want to come and play in the UTT.”
A total of 48 players, including 16 foreigners, will be in action, as teams finalized their six-member squads after a strategic drafting process.
Jaipur Patriots’ COO Imran Shaikh expressed satisfaction with their picks, particularly securing Sreeja Akula, stating, “We have a strong squad and we are confident that we can go all the way.” Similarly, Kartikeya Rao of Ahmedabad SG Pipers emphasized their approach of creating a balanced team with strong support staff.
U Mumba TT followed a tried and tested formula by re-signing Nigerian star Aruna Quadri and adding Asian Games bronze medallist Sutirtha Mukherjee. U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok expressed contentment with their balanced squad, noting, “There are no gaping holes in our squad.”
PBG Bengaluru Smashers retained star player Manika Batra and added experienced internationals Alvaro Robles from Spain and Lily Zhang from the USA, along with promising young talent Taneesha Kotecha. Owner Punit Balan highlighted the strength and potential of their squad.
Defending champions Goa Challengers retained Harmeet Desai and added new talents such as Yangzi Liu from Australia and Olympic competitor Mihai Bobocica from Italy. Despite a challenging draft position, owner Vivek Bhargava remains optimistic about replicating last year’s success.
Chennai Lions, last season’s runners-up, revamped their roster with Japanese star Sakura Mori and Frenchman Jules Rolland, alongside Indian veterans like Achanta Sharath Kamal. Owner GS Ravi emphasized the maturity and potential of their team.
Dabang Delhi TTC, led by Sathiyan G and Austrian Andreas Levenko, fortified their squad with young Indian talents Diya Chitale, Lakshita Narang, and Yashansh Malik. CEO Durganath Wagle expressed satisfaction with their draft strategy’s outcomes.
The excitement and anticipation for UTT 2024 are palpable as teams prepare for intense competition. The season promises to deliver high-quality table tennis, bringing the thrilling action to fans across the country.
Squads:
Ahmedabad SG Pipers: Manush Shah, Bernadette Szocs (Romania), Lilian Bardet (France), Reeth Tennison, Pritha Vartikar, Jash Modi.
Chennai Lions: Achanta Sharath Kamal, Sakura Mori (Japan), Jules Rolland (France), Poymantee Baisya, Mouma Das, Abhinandh PB.
Dabang Delhi TTC: Sathiyan G, Orawan Paranang (Thailand), Diya Chitale, Andreas Levenko (Austria), Yashansh Malik, Lakshita Narang.
Goa Challengers: Harmeet Desai, Yangzi Liu (Australia), Yashaswini Ghorpade, Sudhanshu Grover, Sayali Wani, Mihai Bobocica (Italy)
Jaipur Patriots: Sreeja Akula, Cho Seungmin (South Korea), Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand), Snehit SFR, Ronit Bhanja, Moumita Dutta.
PBG Bengaluru Smashers: Manika Batra, Alvaro Robles (Spain), Lily Zhang (USA), Jeet Chandra, Taneesha Kotecha, Amalraj Anthony.
Puneri Paltan Table Tennis: Ayhika Mukherjee, Nina Mittelham (Germany), Joao Monteiro (Portugal), Ankur Bhattacharjee, Anirban Ghosh, Yashini Sivashankar.
U Mumba TT: Manav Thakkar, Sutirtha Mukherjee, Aruna Quadri (Nigeria), Akash Pal, Kavyasree Baskar, Maria Xiao (Spain).
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