Commonwealth Games gold medallists Manika Batra and G Sathiyan stamped their class, to guide team Dabang Smashers to the CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis title with a 11-7 win over Falcons TTC in the final.
Dabang Smashers win – As it happened…
Manika Batra and G Sathiyan’s power-packed performances helped the Dabang Smashers topple defending champions Falcons TTC. By doing so, they pocketed a whopping Rs 1 crore prize money in front of a full house in Kolkata.
Riding on a brilliant start that saw the Smashers jump to a solid 7-2 lead after just three matches, captain Sathiyan recorded a thumping 2-1 victory over Alvaro Robles to bring the contest to a premature end.
Sathiyan won the first set handsomely and led 5-0 in the second. But Spain’s Robles pulled back to draw level and make it 1-1. World No. 44 Sathiyan, however, had the last laugh, winning the third and the crucial 11th game point to seal the victory for the Smashers.
Earlier, 23-year-old Manika led the charge, downing World No. 30 Matilda Ekholm 3-0 (11-8, 11-10, 11-9). The 2018 Commonwealth Games double-gold medallist dominated her Swedish opponent, claiming points with a series of blistering smashes.
By doing so, Manika Batra picked up the Indian player of the league award for her outstanding performance through the season. She won 5 matches and lost 2.
World No. 27 Yoshida Masaki extended Smashers lead with a 2-1 victory over Sanil Shetty. Masaki exhibited great technique and control to claim the first two sets 11-8, 11-8. But Shetty went back for broke and claimed the last set to corner one vital point.
Sathiyan and Sakura Mori promptly paired up to pick 2 more game points, getting the better of Sanil Shetty and Bernadette Szocs in the mixed doubles clash.
Falcons’ captain and last year’s MVP Liam Pitchford brought his side back to life, beating Belgium’s Cedric Nuytinck 2-1 in an exhilarating contest. He, however, yielded a vital point, losing the second set 5-11 which proved critical in the end.
Romania’s Szocs, who has quietly been winning matches for Falcons, then overcame young Adriana Diaz to narrow the lead. But the 17-year-old Puerto Rican also pulled one point in the third set to prepare the stage for Sathiyan.
UTT Season 2 Roll of honour:
Standout Indian player: Manika Batra (Smashers)
Most valuable player (female): Elizabeta Samara (Maharashtra United)
CEAT Most valuable player (male): Liam Pitchford (Falcons)
Super server: Matilda Ekholm (Falcons)
Ultimate 1: Yoshida Masaki (Smashers)
Finals Match Results
Dabang Smashers TTC bt Falcons TTC 11-7
Women’s singles: Manika Batra bt Matilda Ekholm (Swe) 3-0 (11-8, 11-10, 11-9)
Men’s singles: Yoshida Masaki (Jpn) bt Sanil Shetty 2-1 (11-8, 11-8, 10-11)
Mixed doubles: G Sathiyan/ Sakura Mori (Jpn) bt Sanil Shetty/ Bernadette Szocs (Rom) 2-1 (11-6, 11-7, 3-11)
Men’s singles: Cedric Nuytinck (Bel) lost Liam Pitchford (Eng) 1-2 (8-11, 11-5, 7-11)
Women’s singles: Adriana Diaz (Pue) lost to Bernadette Szocs 1-2 (5-11, 9-11, 11-6)
Men’s singles: G Sathiyan bt Alvaro Robles (Esp) 2-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-8)
Women’s singles: Sakura Mori v Sutirtha Mukherjee (did not play)
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