French Olympian Prithika Pavade showcased a dominant performance, helping PBG Pune Jaguars secure their first win in Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 by defeating UP Prometheans 9-6 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium. Pavade’s remarkable display included a crucial win in the Women’s Singles against two-time UTT MVP Yangzi Liu, turning the match around after being a game down.
The UTT Season 7, organized under the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and supported by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, features 42 players worldwide, including 14 Olympians. This season aims to enhance the Indian table tennis ecosystem through competitive events and developmental initiatives throughout the year. UP Prometheans initially took the lead with Germany’s Ricardo Walther defeating Egypt’s Omar Assar in three games, but PBG Pune Jaguars swiftly responded with strong performances.
Diya Chitale’s comeback victory against Sayali Wani and Snehit SFR and Pavade’s win in the mixed doubles Golden Points matches shifted the momentum in favor of Pune. Snehit continued his unbeaten streak by overcoming Sudhanshu Grover, setting the stage for Pavade’s exceptional comeback against Liu, securing Pune’s victory in a thrilling finish.
Prithika Pavade was honored as the Foreign Player of the Tie, while Snehit received accolades as the Indian Player of the Tie and the ChatGPT Match IQ Player of the Tie. Additionally, Omar Assar’s impressive shot during his singles match earned him the Bisleri Shot of the Tie award. In other UTT Junior matches, Dabang Delhi TTC defeated Ahmedabad APL Pipers 6-3, and U Mumba TT maintained their winning streak with a 5-4 triumph over HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades.
