UTT 2024 Final: Harmeet Desai leads Goa Challengers to historic second consecutive UTT title with an 8-2 victory over Dabang Delhi TTC

The final of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 season saw the Goa Challengers create history with an 8-2 triumph over former champions Dabang Delhi TTC to claim their second straight title.

The final was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Saturday, September 7 and the Goa Challengers become the first team to successfully defend their crown in the league.

The final began with a clash between two of India’s top men’s singles paddlers, Goa Challengers’ Harmeet Desai and Delhi’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in the first men’s singles.

Desai, who had been in exceptional form throughout the season, suffered a setback in the opening game, losing 6-11. However, the Goa star quickly bounced back to take the next two games 11-9, 11-6, and secure an early lead for his team.

Yangzi Liu followed up Desai’s win with a commanding performance in the women’s singles, where she faced off against Orawan Paranang. After cruising to an 11-2 victory in the first game, Liu faced some resistance from Paranang but managed to edge her out in the next two games, winning 11-10, 11-9. This victory was particularly sweet for Liu, as she avenged her earlier league-stage defeat to Paranang.

The mixed doubles saw the duo of Harmeet Desai and Yangzi Liu take on Dabang Delhi’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Orawan Paranang. In a thrilling match, the Goa pair returned from a game down to win the next two 11-8, 11-9, and seal the match. This victory put Goa on the brink of claiming the title, needing just one more win to seal the deal.

With the momentum heavily in Goa’s favor, it was Mihai Bobocica who stepped up to complete the formalities. Facing Andreas Levenko in the second men’s singles, Bobocica delivered the final blow by winning the first game 11-7, bringing the season to a triumphant close for the Goa Challengers.

Harmeet Desai’s consistent brilliance throughout the final earned him the Indian Player of the Tie award, while Yangzi Liu, who was unstoppable all season, claimed both the Foreign Player of the Tie and the prestigious Most Valuable Player (MVP) female player of the league for her unbeaten record in UTT 2024. Meanwhile, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran took the men's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Complete results of the final of UTT 2024: Goa Challengers vs. Dabang Delhi TTC

Goa Challengers 8-2 Delhi Dabang TTC

Harmeet Desai beat Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6 (2-1)

Yangzi Liu beat Orawan Paranang 11-2, 11-10, 11-9 (3-0)

Desai-Liu beat Sathiyan-Paranang 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 (2-1)

Mihai Bobocica beat Andreas Levenko 11-7 (1-0)