Butterfly UTT Season 7: Star Players and Exciting Auction Ahead

Butterfly UTT Season 7 is gearing up with star players like Manav Thakkar and Diya Chitale leading the roster. The season runs from July 9 to July 26 in Goa, with an auction set for April 28. Key retentions include Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra, while emerging talents like Divyanshi Bhowmick are also in the mix. The auction promises to be competitive, featuring a blend of established stars and new entrants from around the globe. Don't miss the action as teams strategize to build their ideal squads!

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 25, 2026, 13:27 IST

Overview of Butterfly UTT Season 7

The Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 is set to feature prominent Indian players such as Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale. Team retentions have confirmed that established players Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra will remain with their respective franchises ahead of the auction.

Season Schedule and Broadcast Details

This thrilling season will take place from July 9 to July 26 at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. Fans can catch all the action live on the Star Sports network and stream it on JioHotstar. The player pool includes a diverse mix of seasoned Indian athletes, promising newcomers, and elite international players, with the auction scheduled for April 28 at Mumbai's Sahara Star.

Key Players and Retention Updates

Thakkar and Shah are making a comeback to the auction after a year away due to international duties, both currently holding the World No. 5 ranking in men's doubles. Shah also teams up with Chitale in mixed doubles, where they are ranked World No. 6 and made history as the first Indian duo to qualify for the WTT Finals. Chitale, who was the highest bid in last season's auction, returns after Dabang Delhi TTC chose to retain Sathiyan, marking his seventh consecutive season with the team. Batra is back in the league after missing the last season due to injury, having been retained by Ahmedabad APL Pipers.

Auction Details and Team Strategies

Teams have utilized their retention options ahead of the auction. In addition to Batra and Gnanasekaran, Ankur Bhattacharjee and doubles expert Akash Pal have been retained by Kolkata Thunderblades and U Mumba TT, respectively. Dempo Goa Challengers and PBG Pune Jaguars have opted not to retain any players, entering the auction with a full budget alongside the newly formed UP Prometheans.

Auction Format and Financial Structure

The franchise-based league, organized by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), will utilize an auction system for team roster construction. Each franchise will have a budget of 1 crore tokens. The auction will feature a structured format with revised base prices across four categories: Rs 20 lakhs, Rs 12 lakhs, Rs 7 lakhs, and Rs 3 lakhs tokens, with bidding increments set at 20,000 tokens.

International Talent and Emerging Indian Stars

Welsh player Anna Hursey may become the first from her nation to participate in Butterfly UTT if selected, while France's Prithika Pavade enhances the women's lineup. The men's category will see new international entrants like Adrien Rassenfosse, Eduard Ionescu, Nicholas Lum, and Youssef Abdelaziz, alongside returning players such as Bernadette Szocs, Quadri Aruna, Alvaro Robles, and Yangzi Liu, adding a wealth of experience to the auction.

The Indian roster also includes promising talents like Divyanshi Bhowmick, who is entering the auction for the first time. Bhowmick made headlines by winning gold in the U15 girls' singles at the 2025 Asian Cadet Championships, marking a historic achievement as the first Indian to do so in 36 years, and followed it up with a bronze at the 2025 World Youth Championships.

With a strategic mix of seasoned players and emerging talents, the Butterfly UTT Season 7 auction is set to be a competitive event as teams aim to build strong squads for the upcoming season.