Teenager Abhinandh PB steers Goa Challengers into UTT final

In the semi-finals of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7, 18-year-old Abhinandh PB defeated seasoned player G Sathiyan 11-9 in the decisive rubber, securing Dempo Goa Challengers’ place in the final. The win continued Goa’s unbeaten campaign, while Dabang Delhi TTC’s seventh consecutive semi-final appearance ended in defeat.

Sathiyan, a veteran of Indian table tennis, praised his younger opponent after the match. “Extremely happy with the guy, especially being from my hometown. The way he has displayed courage to beat top players in the world, it’s a phenomenal improvement in the last few years. I think he has a great future, and hope to see him in the Indian senior team very soon,” he said.

Abhinandh, who had a breakout debut season with U Mumba last year, has become a singles mainstay for Goa. With four wins out of six matches in the tournament, he has been instrumental in the team’s success. Reflecting on the tense match, Abhinandh said: “I had some thoughts running in my head. I tried two shots which were unnecessary. But I did not go into a negative mindset even at 9-9, which helped me.” He also expressed gratitude for Sathiyan’s praise, calling it an honour.

The match began with Goa’s Alvaro Robles defeating Youssef Abdelaziz in straight games, giving Goa an early lead. However, Delhi’s Maria Xiao upset Goa skipper Bernadette Szocs in the women’s singles, pulling two points back for Delhi. Goa regained momentum in the mixed doubles, with Robles and Syndrela Das blanking Sathiyan and Maria 3-0. This set the stage for Abhinandh’s decisive victory, which sent the Panaji crowd into celebration.

Abhinandh’s rise highlights the depth of Indian table tennis talent, as noted by multiple established players. The final is scheduled for Sunday.