RP-SG Mavericks edged out Dabang Smashers T.T.C 14-13 in a close tie on day 8 of the inaugural CEAT Ultimate Table TennisA(UTT) at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in ChennaiAon Thursday. Action shifts to New Delhi fromAFriday.
Dabang Smashers T.T.CasAG Sathiyan warmed the hearts of the home crowd as the local star pulled off aAstunning 2-1 (11-5, 11-9, 10-11) win over RP-SG Mavericksa Austrian world No 23AStefan Fegrel in the menasAsingles (Foreign v Indian), the dayas opening match.
Sathiyan, ranked 110,Acruised to an easy win in the opening game, and rallied brilliantly to win aAtense secondAgame. The Indian then recovered brilliantly from 3-7 in the lastAgame before the experienced Fegerl won onAthe final point.
Ukrainian world No. 56ATetyana Bilenko made it 4-2 for Dabang Smashers T.T.C after she rallied from aAgameAdown for a 2-1 win (10-11, 11-7, 11-8) over Archana Kamath of RP-SGAMavericks in the womenas singlesA(Foreign v Indian).
Archana, 17 years oldAand ranked 217, won the opening game on the final point. However, Bilenko cameAbackAstrongly to bag the next two.
A Sharath Kamal /ASofia Polcanova (Austria) put RP-SG Mavericks in the lead 5-4 with a 3-0 (11-5,A11-7, 11-5)Awin over G ASathiyan / Kim Song I of ASmashers in theAmixed doubles (Foreign/Indian pair).
However, China-bornAUkraine world No. 28 Kou Lei of Dabang Smashers T.T.C edged out PortugueseAworld No.A31 Tiago Apolonia (RP-SG Mavericks) 2-1 (11-3, 10-11, 11-10) in theAmenas singles (Foreign player category)Ato level the scores at 6-all with fiveAmore matches remain in the ongoing tie.
North Korean world No 19 Kim Song I defeated Sabine Winter of RP-SG Mavericks 2-1 (11-8, 11-8, 9-11) inAthe womenas singles (Foreign player category) to hand Smashers the lead at 8-7.
World No. 43 Sharath Kamal levelled it at 9-9 for RP-SG Mavericks with a 2-1 (11-8, 11-9, 5-11) win over Portuguese world No 14AMarcos Freitas (Dabang Smashers TTC) in the menas singles (Indian v Foreign) as the Indianas home fans supported loudly.
Sabine Winter thumped Madhurika Patkar of Dabang Smashers TTC a 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-6) in the womenas singles (Foreign vAIndian) to hand RP-SG Mavericks a 12-9 lead but Marcos Freitas helped ADabang Smashers TTC rally back to 11-13 with a 2-1 (11-5, 11-5, 10-11) win over AStefan Fegrel in the menas singles (Foreign player category).
It boiled down to the last match of the day, the womenas singles (Foreign player category) between RP-SG Mavericksa AustrianAworld No 44 Sofia Polcanova and Dabang Smashers TTCas Tetyana Bilenko.
Polcanova won the opening game 11-8 to help RP-SG Mavericks edge ahead to 14 points before Tetyana Bilenko rallied to win theAnext two games to help Dabang Smashers T.T.C finish with 13 points.
Falcons TTC willAmeet ShazA ChallengersAon FridayAas the action shifts to ThyagrajAStadium in New Delhi untilAJuly 25Afor the second leg.
RP-SGAMavericks 14-13 Dabang Smashers T.T.C
MS a Stefan Fegerl lost to G Sathiyan 1-2 (5-11,A9-11, 11-10)
WS a Archana Girish Kamath lost to TetyanaABilenko 1-2 (11-10, 7-11, 8-11)
MD a Sharath Kamal/ Sofia Polcanova beat GASathiyan/ Kim Song I 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-5)
MS a Tiago Apolonia lost to Kou Lei 1-2A(3-11, 11-10, 10-11)
WS a Sabine Winter lost to Kim Song I 1-2A(8-11, 8-11, 11-9)
MS a Sharath Kamal beat Marcos Freitas 2-1A(11-8, 11-9, 5-11)
WS a Sabine Winter beat Madhurika PatkarA3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-6)
MS a Stefan Fegerl lost to Marcos Freitas 1-2 (5-11,A5-11, 11-10)
WS a Sofia Polcanova lost Tetyana Bilenko 1-2A(11-8, 7-11, 10-11)
