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U Mumba TT staged a dramatic comeback to beat Dempo Goa Challengers 8-7 in the UTT semi-final, securing their first-ever spot in the grand finale.
Yashaswini Ghorpade sealed a final spot for U Mumba TT (Picture credit: UTT)
U Mumba TT staged a dramatic comeback to beat reigning champions Dempo Goa Challengers in the second semi-final of Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6. Trailing 4-7, Mumbai won the final four games to clinch an 8-7 win against Goa and book their first-ever spot in the grand finale.
With Goa just one game away from the final and Mumbai needing a clean sweep in the last rubber, Yashaswini Ghorpade rose to the occasion, winning back-to-back games before clinching the decider 11–10 in a nerve-wracking finish.
Mumbai now face the Jaipur Patriots on Sunday, June 15, guaranteeing a new name on the UTT champions list.
Harmeet Desai gave Goa a strong start with a composed 3‑0 victory over Lilian Bardet, sealing the third game on golden point after the latter had rallied from 2‑6 down. But Mumbai hit back through Bernadette Szocs, who handed Zeng Jian her first loss of the season.
Szocs took the first two games with sharp counterplay before Zeng salvaged the third 11‑7.
In mixed doubles, Mumbai struck back as Akash Pal and Szocs sprang from a 3‑6 deficit to seal games one and three, winning their rubber 2‑1. That win trimmed Goa’s lead to a slender 5‑4 heading into the remaining matches.
Vitor Ishiy almost sealed the tie for Goa, racing through the first two games against Abhinandh PB with scores of 11-6 and 11-4. But the latter refused to let Mumbai’s campaign end.
Down 6-9 in the third, Abhinandh clawed back with four successive points to snatch the game 11-9, keeping his team in the hunt heading into the final match.
Yashaswini grabbed the chance with both hands thereon, beating Krittwika Sinha Roy across three close games to propel Mumbai to their maiden UTT final. For her efforts, Yashaswini won both the Indian Player of the Tie and the Shot of the Tie awards, while Szocs claimed the Foreign Player of the Tie honour.
Final Scores
U Mumba TT 8-7 Dempo Goa Challengers
Lilian Bardet lost to Harmeet Desai 0-3 (8-11, 4-11, 10-11)
Bernadette Szocs bt. Zeng Jian 2-1 (11-5, 11-9, 7-11)
Akash Pal/Bernadette Szocs bt. Harmeet Desai/Zeng Jian 2-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-9)
Abhinandh PB lost to Vitor Ishiy 1-2 (6-11, 4-11, 11-9)
Yashaswini Ghorpade bt. Krittwika Sinha Roy 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 11-10)
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