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Sreeja Akula and Yashansh Malik led Jaipur Patriots to an 8-7 victory over Dabang Delhi TTC, reaching the UTT Season 6 Grand Final.
Sreeja Akula won a thrilling last match of the semifinal (Picture credit: UTT)
Ace Indian paddler Sreeja Akula maintained her unbeaten run, while rising star Yashansh Malik stunned Sathiyan Gnanasekaran as the Jaipur Patriots reached the Ultimate Table Tennis Season 6 Grand Final with a thrilling 8-7 victory over the Dabang Delhi TTC.
Yashansh pulled off the biggest upset of the night with a 2-1 victory over Delhi captain Sathiyan, while Sreeja wrapped up the win with a narrow triumph against Diya Chitale in the final match of the tie.
Jaipur will now play the winner of the second semi-final between the Dempo Goa Challengers and U Mumba TT in the final on Sunday, June 15.
Jaipur drew first blood in the semi-final, as Kanak Jha turned the tables on Izaac Quek with a 2-1 victory, avenging his opening-day loss. Quek controlled the pace to take the first game 11-7, but Jha edged a tense second game on Golden Point with a forehand winner, before powering through the decider.
Delhi drew level through Maria Xiao, who overcame a strong start from the in-form Britt Eerland to win 2-1, before the Delhi duo of Sathiyan and Xiao defeated Jeet Chandra and Eerland, extending their perfect mixed doubles run to edge their team ahead on the night.
Yashansh kept Jaipur in the fight. After saving three game points in the opener to win on Golden Point, he came from behind again in the second game to clinch it 11-9, marking his first win in UTT.
Sathiyan responded with an 11-6 victory in the third, leaving the tie level at 6-all heading into the final rubber.
In a high-stakes decider, Sreeja took the opening game 11-9 despite Diya clawing back from 1-5 down. With Delhi’s hopes on the line, Diya responded with a strong 11-6 victory in Game 2.
The final game was a nail-biter, with both paddlers locked at 8-8 before Sreeja sealed it with a blazing forehand winner, sending Jaipur to their first-ever UTT final.
Sreeja was named the Indian Player of the Tie, while Delhi’s Xiao and Diya claimed the Foreign Player and Shot of the Tie honours.
Final Scores
Jaipur Patriots 8-7 Dabang Delhi TTC
Kanak Jha bt. Izaac Quek 2-1 (7-11, 11-10, 11-3)
Britt Eerland lost to Maria Xiao 1-2 (11-6, 6-11, 8-11)
Jeet Chandra/Britt Eerland lost to Sathiyan Gnanasekaran/Maria Xiao 1-2 (11-8, 9-11, 10-11)
Yashansh Malik bt. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 2-1 (11-10, 11-9, 6-11)
Sreeja Akula bt. Diya Chitale 2-1 (11-9, 6-11, 11-9)
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A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports
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