Dabang Smashers win CEAT 2018 Ultimate League

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

It was for Dabang Smashers a true team effort, every player contributed.

Manika Batra gave Dabang Smashers the best possible start by beating Matilda Ekholm, three-nil (11-8, 11-10, 11-9), she was followed by Masaki Yoshida who recorded a two-one win in opposition to Sanil Shetty (11-6, 11-7, 3-11).

A four point lead for Dabang Smashers, the advantage was increased to five points when Sathiyan Gnanasekaran joined forces with Sakura Mori to secure a two-one mixed doubles win in opposition to Sanil Shetty and Bernadette Szocs (11-6, 11-7, 3-11).

The momentum was with Dabang Smashers; Liam Pitchford reduced the gap by recording a two-one success against Cédric Nuythick (11-9, 5-11, 11-7), before in a similar manner Bernadette Szocs overcame Adriana Diaz (11-5, 11-9, 6-11).

Defeats for Dabang Snashers but securing the two games was vital in the overall tally; it meant that just two more games were needed to secure the title. They were duly clinched by Sathiyan Gnanasekaran; he won the first against Alvaro Robles, before losing the second and then recovering from a 4-5 deficit to establish a 10-8 lead in third.

At the first attempt he succeeded, the title belonged to Dabang Smashers; for Falcons it was what might have been; for Dabang Smashers it was unbridled celebration.

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Latest News

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Thursday 14th June – Falcons TTC v Maharashtra United

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Friday 15th June – RP-SG Mavericks v Empowerji Challengers

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Saturday 16th June – Dabang Smashers TTC v Warriors TTC

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Sunday 17th June – RP-SG Mavericks v Maharashtra United

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Monday 18th June – Dabang Smashers TTC v Falcons TTC

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Tuesday 19th June – Warriors TTC v Empowerji Challengers

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Wednesday 20th June – Dabang Smashers v RP-SG Mavericks

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Thursday 21st June – Empowerji Challengers v Maharashtra United

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Friday 22nd June – Warriors TTC v Falcons TTC

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Saturday 23rd June – Maharashtra United v Dabang Smashers

CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis: Sunday 24th June – Empowerji Challengers v Falcons TTC