Chennai: Dabang Delhi TTC secured their first win in UTT 2024, thanks to a stellar performance by their captain, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran. Playing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Sathiyan faced off against Athlead Goa Challengers’ Mihai Bobocica in a thrilling encounter.
The match began with Bobocica taking the first game 11-8 after a tense 23-shot rally, marking the longest rally of the season so far. However, Sathiyan displayed his resilience, bouncing back to win the next two games 11-9, 11-9, clinching the match and giving Delhi a crucial edge.
In the women’s singles, Orawan Parnang of Dabang Delhi made headlines by defeating Yangjie Liu, who had been unbeaten in the tournament. Parnang’s 11-7, 11-10, 6-11 victory not only marked her as the first player to overcome Liu but also set the tone for Delhi’s overall performance. Later, in the mixed doubles, Parnang teamed up with Sathiyan to hand Liu and Harmeet Desai another defeat, winning 11-7, 11-4, 7-11.
Goa Challengers’ captain, Harmeet Desai, managed to secure a victory in the men’s singles, defeating Andreas Levenko after losing the first game. Harmeet’s 11-7, 8-11, 9-11 comeback showcased his fighting spirit, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide in Goa’s favor.
Daya Chitale of Dabang Delhi added to the team’s success by defeating Yashaswini Ghorpade in a close 2-1 match, securing her second consecutive win in the tournament.
For their outstanding contributions, Sathiyan and Parnang were recognized as the Indian and Foreign Players of the Year, respectively. Sathiyan also won the Dafanews Shot of the Tie title, while Bobocica took home the ACT Fastest Rally of the Tie award.
Looking ahead, the next match will see PBG Bengaluru Smashers take on Jaipur Patriots as Bengaluru aims to maintain their undefeated streak in the IndianOil UTT 2024. The action kicks off at 7:30 PM on Thursday.
