U Mumba wins maiden Ultimate Table Tennis title after beating Jaipur Patriots in UTT 2025 final

P.B. Abhinandh, emulating Carlos Alcaraz from last week’s French Open final, fell flat on his back as Jeet Chandra’s crosscourt forehand clipped the net and went out to seal U Mumba’s first-ever Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league title in front of a near-capacity crowd at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

With the Mumbai-based franchise leading Jaipur Patriots 7-2 after mixed doubles, the 17-year-old from Chennai had to win just one game against Chandra in the first reverse singles. The situation was in total contrast to his team’s semifinal against Dempo Goa Challengers where he had to earn at least one point.

But like he did against the Challengers, Abhinandh captured the third game after being outplayed for most part in the first two against Chandra, eight years his senior. And this time, no houdini act was required from Yashaswini Ghorpade.

The platform for Mumba’s win was set by captain Bernadette Szocs. World No. 12 Szocs, who ended Zeng Jian’s unbeaten streak in the final-four tie, also brought Sreeja Akula’s undefeated run to a halt.

The Romanian produced a serving masterclass, troubling Sreeja with her numerous variations in the tomahawk serve. At 10-9 in the opener, Szocs surprised the Indian with the long pendulum serve down the line and caught her completely off guard.

The platform for Mumba’s win was set by captain Bernadette Szocs. World No. 12 Szocs, who ended Zeng Jian’s unbeaten streak in the final-four tie, also brought Sreeja Akula’s undefeated run to a halt.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI

In a closely-fought second iteration, Szocs, amidst the loud “Sreeja! Sreeja!” cheers on Golden Point brought the tomahawk serve out again but the Indian made the return and the Mumba skipper netted the third ball with her forehand.

Sreeja, who won five of her six matches in the tournament with a 2-1 scoreline, would have believed in herself to replicate the same once again. But it wasn’t her day as her forehand kept misfiring in the decider. Szocs deserved credit for that as well as she came up with at least two clutch forehand retrieves from way behind the table to keep the rallies going.

A warmed-up Szocs then combined with Akash Pal to blank Chandra and Dutchwoman Britt Eerland in a one-sided mixed doubles.

The Patriots had started on a positive note with skipper Kanak Jha bagging the first game 11-4 against Lilian Bardet. But the Frenchman, also known as ‘T.Rex’, managed to unleash his strong forehand shots during the second game and from thereon, it was a totally different contest.

Champion U Mumba received INR 60 lakh, runner-up Patriots got INR 40 lakh while the two losing semifinalists – Dabang Delhi TTC and the Challengers – each was awarded INR 17.5 lakh in prize money.