Mumbai, April 28, 2026: The Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 auction delivered high drama as Romania’s Bernadette Szocs emerged the highest-valued player at 40 L tokens, joining Dempo Goa Challengers. India’s Diya Chitale continued her dominance as the top Indian buy for the second straight year, moving to PBG Pune Jaguars for 37.4 L tokens.
UP Prometheans made a strong statement by signing Manav Thakkar (36 L) and two-time MVP Yangzi Liu (32 L), forming a formidable core. Meanwhile, Manush Shah was picked by U Mumba TT for 37.2 L tokens, strengthening their squad alongside retained players.
Young talent stole the spotlight as 15-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick became the youngest-ever UTT signing with Dabang Delhi TTC, while 16-year-old Syndrela Das joined Goa Challengers.
The league, co-promoted by Vita Dani and Niraj Bajaj under the Table Tennis Federation of India, will run from July 9 to 26 in Goa. Matches will be streamed on JioHotstar and broadcast on Star Sports Network.
All seven teams built balanced squads blending international stars and emerging Indian players. Defending champions U Mumba TT added depth late in the auction, while Pune Jaguars invested heavily around Chitale. Goa Challengers combined experience with youth, and Delhi focused on rebuilding a strong core.
With a single round-robin format followed by knockouts, Season 7 promises intense competition as top global and Indian paddlers gear up for the July showdown.
