Goa, July 26: U Mumba TT successfully defended their Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 title with an impressive 8-5 victory over Dempo Goa Challengers in the Grand Finale at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
The defending champions staged a remarkable comeback after trailing 4-2 following the opening two matches. Captain Manush Shah and Anna Hursey turned the tide with a dominant mixed doubles victory before Manush defeated Alvaro Robles in a crucial men’s singles clash. Anusha Kutumbale sealed the championship by edging Syndrela Das 11-10 in a tense deciding match, handing Goa their only defeat of the season.
With the triumph, U Mumba equalled Dempo Goa Challengers as the most successful franchise in UTT history, with two titles each. The team also completed a memorable double after winning the Dream UTT Juniors title earlier this month.
Manush Shah and Anna Hursey were rewarded for their outstanding performances by being named the Men’s and Women’s Most Valuable Players (MVPs), respectively. Dempo Goa Challengers’ rising star Abhinandh PB received the ChatGPT Player of the League award, while PBG Pune Jaguars’ Omar Assar won the Shot of the League honour.
Butterfly UTT Season 7, organised under the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), featured 42 players, including 14 Olympians, showcasing world-class table tennis and providing a strong platform for Indian talent. The thrilling final capped another successful edition of India’s premier franchise-based table tennis league, highlighting the growing standard and popularity of the sport in the country.
