The Chennai Lions staged a thrilling comeback in the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 (IndianOil UTT), narrowly defeating Dabang Delhi TTC 8-7 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
Achanta Sharath Kamal, the league’s top-ranked Indian male paddler, set the stage with a strong performance in the first menâs singles match. Sharath defeated Dabang Delhi TTCâs debutant Andreas Levenko 2-1, showcasing his skill with powerful smashes that helped Chennai Lions gain an early advantage.
Sakura Mori built on Sharath’s momentum by winning the first womenâs singles match against Orawan Paranang, also by a score of 2-1. Despite a fierce fightback from Paranang in the third game, Mori’s solid play secured the win and extended the Lions’ lead.
In the mixed doubles match, Sharath Kamal and Sakura Mori continued the winning streak, defeating Dabang Delhi TTCâs Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Paranang 2-1. The Chennai Lions’ victory was confirmed when **Jules Rolland** beat Sathiyan Gnanasekaran 2-1 in the subsequent match.
In a standout moment, Diya Chitale of Dabang Delhi TTC achieved a personal milestone by winning her first-ever match in the league. Chitaleâs 3-0 win over Poymantee Baisya earned her the Indian Player of the Tie award. Sakura Mori was honoured as the Foreign Player of the Tie, while Jules Rolland received the DafaNews Shot of the Tie award for his remarkable play