Goa Challengers Beat Dabang Delhi 8-2 to Reach UTT Final

Dempo Goa Challengers became the first team to secure a place in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 final after registering a commanding 8-2 victory over former champions Dabang Delhi TTC in the first semi-final. Olympian Alvaro Robles starred for the hosts with outstanding performances in both the men's singles and mixed doubles, helping Goa extend their unbeaten run and move within one win of the championship title.

Goa made an impressive start to the contest as Robles defeated Youssef Abdelaziz in straight games to hand his side an early 3-0 lead. The Spaniard comfortably won the opening two games before staging a remarkable comeback from 7-10 down in the third game to complete a clean sweep. His victory gave the league leaders early momentum and placed immediate pressure on the Delhi outfit.

Dabang Delhi TTC fought back through Maria Xiao, who recovered after narrowly losing the opening game to Bernadette Szocs. Xiao dominated the remaining two games to reduce the deficit and briefly revive Delhi's hopes. However, Goa quickly regained control as Robles partnered youngster Syndrela Das in the mixed doubles, where the duo defeated Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Maria Xiao in straight games to restore the hosts' commanding advantage.

Also Read: Dempo Goa Challengers Complete UTT Season 7 League Phase Unbeaten After UP Win

With Goa on the verge of victory, Abhinandh PB produced a composed display against Delhi captain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in the men's singles. After a closely contested encounter, Abhinandh edged the decisive game 11-9 to seal the tie and confirm Goa Challengers' place in the UTT Season 7 final. The result capped another dominant performance from a team that had already become the first in tournament history to complete the league stage unbeaten.

Alvaro Robles was recognised for his exceptional contribution by winning both the Match IQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie awards. Syndrela Das received the Indian Player of the Tie honour for her impressive display in the mixed doubles, while Maria Xiao earned the Shot of the Tie award for her standout effort during the semi-final.

Organised under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 features 42 players from across the world, including 14 Olympians. Goa Challengers now head into the final with an unbeaten record and the opportunity to complete a historic campaign by lifting the UTT title, while Dabang Delhi TTC's journey ends in the semi-finals after falling short against the tournament's dominant side.

Also Read: Goa Challengers Beat UP Prometheans 10-5 To Finish League Unbeaten