UTT 2024 Semifinal 2: Diya Chitale guides Dabang Delhi TTC to an 8-6 victory over Ahmedabad SG Pipers to book a place in the final
The second semifinal of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 between Dabang Delhi TTC and debutants Ahmedabad SG Pipers saw a thrilling battle on Friday, September 6. The Delhi side managed a close 8-6 win in a rollercoaster affair that saw both teams battling it out until the last match to secure their place in the final. In the end, it was 21-year-old Diya Chitale who emerged as the hero, leading her team to victory.
The tie started with the Ahmedabad SG Pipers off to a flying start as Lilian Bardet delivered a strong performance in the first men’s singles match. Bardet faced India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and came out on top in a hard-fought battle.
The French paddler won the first game convincingly, 11-4, but Gnanasekaran fought back to take the second game 11-5. However, Bardet held his nerve in the decider, winning 11-5 to give Ahmedabad an early 2-1 lead.
Dabang Delhi TTC responded quickly as Thailand’s Orawan Paranang stunned World No. 13 Bernadette Szocs in the women’s singles. Paranang was in top form as she won 11-7, 11-9, 11-9, handing Dabang Delhi a crucial 4-2 lead. Meanwhile, Szocs, on a four-match winning streak, suffered only her second loss of the season.
The third match of the tie, a mixed doubles encounter, saw the Ahmedabad SG Pipers hit back. Bernadette Szocs teamed up with Manush Shah to take on Orawan Paranang and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran.
The duo from Ahmedabad have been undefeated all season, and they continued their dominant run by defeating Paranang and Gnanasekaran in straight games, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9. Their win restored Ahmedabad’s lead, making the score 5-4 in favor of the Pipers.
In the second men’s singles match, Dabang Delhi’s Andreas Levenko stepped up to keep his team in the competition. Levenko faced Manush Shah in a thrilling contest that went the distance.
The Austrian paddler won the first game 11-8, but Shah fought back to take the second game on a golden point, winning 11-10. However, Levenko regrouped to win the final game 11-8, leveling the overall score at 6-6 and pushing the tie to a decisive final match.
With the tie delicately poised at 6-6, it all came down to the second women’s singles match between Dabang Delhi’s Diya Chitale and Ahmedabad’s Reeth Rishya. Chitale, showing great composure under pressure, delivered a commanding performance. She won the match in straight games, 11-8, 11-4, to secure an 8-6 victory for Dabang Delhi TTC and send her team into the UTT 2024 final.
With this win, the 2018 UTT champions Dabang Delhi TTC have booked their place in the grand finale, where they will face defending champions Goa Challengers on Saturday, September 7.
Complete results of the second semifinal of UTT 2024: Dabang Delhi TTC vs. Ahmedabad SG Pipers
Ahmedabad SG Pipers 6-8 Dabang Delhi TTC
Lilian Bardet 2-1 Sathiyan Gnanasekaran [11-4, 5-11, 11-5]
Bernadette Szocs 0-3 Orawan Paranang [11-7, 11-9, 11-9]
Szocs/Shah 3-0 Sathiyan/Paranang [11-9, 11-7, 11-9]
Manush Shah 1-2 Andreas Levenko [11-8, 10-11, 11-8]
Reeth Rishya 0-2 Diya Chitale [11-8, 11-4]