Dempo Goa Challengers Set for Semi-Final Clash Against U Mumba TT in UTT Season 6

Exciting Semi-Final Showdown Ahead

Ahmedabad, June 14: The reigning champions, Dempo Goa Challengers, are gearing up for a thrilling semi-final against the determined U Mumba TT in the second semi-final of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6, scheduled for Saturday.

Having clinched back-to-back titles, Dempo Goa finished the league stage in second place with three tie victories and a total of 44 points. U Mumba, who last reached the playoffs in Season 3, secured their spot in the knockouts by finishing third, just two points behind their rivals. The victor of this match will advance to face the Jaipur Patriots, who are making their first final appearance, on Sunday.

Dempo Goa Challengers have shown a pattern of alternating wins and losses throughout the league, yet they remain a formidable team, spearheaded by Harmeet Desai and the exceptional Zeng Jian. Zeng has been particularly impressive, winning all five of her matches and losing only one game during the league phase. She also played a crucial role in the mixed doubles, teaming up with Harmeet for two significant victories.

Harmeet has been a consistent performer as well, achieving four wins out of five matches. Krittwika Sinha Roy has also made her mark, winning three of her four matches, including a notable victory against China's Fan Siqi. Brazil's Vitor Ishiy, who joined the team as a late replacement for Tiago Apolonia, kicked off his UTT journey with a win.

On the other hand, U Mumba TT enters the semi-final with strong momentum, having secured back-to-back tie victories. Their international players have found their rhythm, with Bernadette Szocs and Lilian Bardet each winning four of their last five singles matches. Young Indian talent Yashaswini Ghorpade has continued her impressive form, achieving three wins from four matches, while Abhinandh PB made a splash in his debut by defeating Singapore’s Izaac Quek, one of the league's top foreign players. The Szocs–Akash Pal duo has also excelled in mixed doubles, winning three out of five matches.

This semi-final marks the first encounter of the season between Dempo Goa Challengers and U Mumba, as they did not face each other during the league stage. With both teams boasting in-form players, fans can expect an exhilarating match filled with high stakes as they vie for a spot in the final.

Squads:

Dempo Goa Challengers: Zeng Jian (Singapore), Harmeet Desai, Vitor Ishiy (Brazil), Ronit Bhanja, Krittwika Sinha Roy, Sayali Wani.

U Mumba TT: Bernadette Szocs (Romania), Lilian Bardet (France), Yashaswini Ghorpade, Swastika Ghosh, Akash Pal, Abhinandh PB.