The Ultimate Table Tennis Draft 2019 happened on Tuesday 13th June at the NSCI in Worli, Mumbai.
A total of 6 teams will compete in the League which are RP-SG Kolkata, U Mumba TT, Dabang Delhi, Chennai Lions, Puneri Paltan and Goa Challengers.
This year the league will take place at a single venue,Delhi for all the matches.
In the UTT 2019 Player Draft the top 6 best picks by the teams were –
Sharath Kamal (Chennai Lions)
The Commonwealth games 2004 gold medalist Sharath Kamal was picked by his Chennai Lions. Thereby Kamal also becomes the local hero for the team in this season as he is the homeboy. He also has an world rank of 14.
Manika Batra (RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata)
Manika Batra was picked up by RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata. She is the current Table Tennis sensation in India and has been successful throughout. She gave Gold Medal to the Women’s team in Gold Coast Commonwealth Games winning against the toughest 4 time commonwealth Champions Singapore Womens team.
Doo Hoi Kem (U Mumbai TT)
The 22 year old Girl from Hongkong was picked by U Mumba TT. She is an summer olympics Silver Medallist in Girls Singles and she also won bronze in Womens table Tennis team event at 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. She is capable of producing a good game overall and is a very good team player.
Chuang Chih-Yuan (Puneri Paltan)
The Chinese Taipei Sensation Chuang Chih-Yuan will represent Puneri Paltan. He is the winner of ITTF World Pro Tour Grand Finals of 2002 and finished fourth in Mens Singles event in 2012 Summer Olympics held in London. He is an very experienced and capable of producing good results for the team . Puneri Paltan would be happy to have him.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (Dabang Delhi)
No doubt that the last year’s UTT champions Dabang Delhi will retain their winning Formula Sathiyan. The 26 year old has been an major name in ITFF and has been honoured with Arjuna Award in 2018.
Cheng I Ching (Goa Challengers)
Nothing can be as big as this player for the new Franchise Goa Challengers. Cheng I Ching was the Quarterfinalist in 2016 Rio Olympics In Womens singles event. She has won Silver in 2016 Philadelphia Womens Singles World Cup and Secured 3rd spot in 2017 World Cup for womens singles in Markham.
Overall the player draft of this season was very good with some of the big names. The League is expected to have an great success this year also.
