UTT 2023: U Mumba thrashes Bengaluru Smashers with a stunning comeback

Manav Thakkar and Lily Zhang played a crucial role with the pair winning their individual as well as doubles matches to complete the comeback and secure the win for U Mumba TT.

Manav Thakkar (right) and Lily Zhang in action for U Mumbai TT s in the Ultimate Table Tennis 2023 match against Bengaluru Smashers. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Pune

U Mumba TT staged a stunning comeback to make a winning start in Ultimate Table Tennis 2023 as it beat Bengaluru Smashers 10-5 in a tie that went down to the wire at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahalunge-Balewadi in Pune on Friday.

In the first match of the tie (Men’s Singles), World No. 58 Kirill Gerassimenko upset World No. 18 Quadri Aruna by 2-1 to gain two crucial team points for his franchise. The Bengaluru paddler began the match with positive intent and played some precise shots to defeat Quadri by 11-3, 9-11, 11-8 in a thrilling contest.

WATCH | UTT highlights: U Mumba TT comes back to beat Bengaluru Smashers

Manika Batra played the next match (Women’s Singles), beating Diya Chitale 2-1 to extend her franchise’s lead by 4-2 in the tie. The World No. 35 was in top gear from the start of the match and won it by 11-10, 7-11, 11-6 with her aggressive and creative net play.

Manika Batra of Bengaluru Smashers in action against U Mumba’s Diya Chitale in the women’s singles match of Ultimate Table Tennis 2023. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

U Mumba TT made a comeback in the third match (Mixed Doubles) as the pair of Manav Thakkar and Lily Zhang defeated Manika and Kirill by 2-1 (11-10, 10-11, 11-6) to reduce Bengaluru Smashers’ lead to 5-4.

Manav continued his top form in the fourth match of the tie (Men’s Singles) as he brushed Sanil Shetty aside by 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 11-7) to bring U Mumba TT into the lead by 7-5 for the first time in the tie.

Lily Zhang blanked Natalia Bajor by 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-4) in the last match to give U Mumba TT a stunning victory.

The results:

Bengaluru Smashers vs U Mumba TT: 5-10: Kirill Gerassimenko 2-1 Quadri Aruna (11-3, 9-11, 11-8); Manika Batra 2-1 Diya Chitale (11-10, 7-11, 11-6); Kirill/Manika 1-2 Manav/Lily (10-11, 11-10, 6-11); Sanil Shetty 0-3 Manav Thakkar (8-11, 3-11, 7-11); Natalia Bajor 0-3 Lily Zhang (6-11, 5-11, 4-11)