UTT 2019: Sathiyan powers Dabang Delhi to the top, Mavericks faces elimination

Skipper G. Sathiyan's heroics helps Dabang Delhi join U Mumba at the top of the table with 33 points.

Published : Aug 04, 2019 21:55 IST , NEW DELHI

G. Sathiyan won both his matches to help Dabang Delhi to the top of the UTT table.
G. Sathiyan won both his matches to help Dabang Delhi to the top of the UTT table.
lightbox-info

G. Sathiyan won both his matches to help Dabang Delhi to the top of the UTT table.

In its battle for survival, Kolkata’s RP-SG Mavericks was expected to give it all. But contrary to expectations, it was defending champion Dabang Delhi that played its heart out for a convincing 10-5 win and ensured a place in the last-four of Ultimate Table Tennis League here.

The result catapulted Delhi to the top of the table where it joined U Mumba with 33 points from four outings and left Mavericks (26) staring at elimination from the six-team league.

With just a match in hand, Mavericks is most likely to join Puneri Paltan as the two eliminated teams following a 15-match round-robin league phase.

Dabang skipper G. Sathiyan produced the kind of performance expected of him. The 30th-ranked Indian was at his belligerent best in blanking Benedikt Duda, ranked 46th. Continuing his winning display in the company of Bernadette Szocs, Sathiyan played his part in stopping Duda and Manika 2-1. Late in the decider, Bernadette made amends with some sterling returns and took the pressure off Sathiyan as the duo bounced back to win.

Like Sathiyan, his teammate, 63rd ranked Jon Persson added three points at the expense of an inconsistent Sanil Shetty and gave Dabang a winning lead.

With Dabang leading 9-3 before the final singles, Mavericks’ left-hander Matilda Ekholm, ranked 23, staved off an upbeat Bernadette 2-1 and reduced the margin of defeat. But that was hardly a consolation for a team staring at elimination.

 

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment