Panaji: Teenage sensation Abhinandh PB and reigning league MVP Bernadette Szocs starred as two-time champions Dempo Goa Challengers began their Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 campaign with a commanding 10-5 win over defending champions U Mumba TT here on Thursday.
Playing in front of their home crowd, the Goa outfit took control early with 18-year-old Abhinandh outclassing Frenchman Lilian Bardet 11-6, 11-2, 11-3 in the opening men’s singles.
Three-time Olympian Szocs then doubled the lead with a clinical 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 victory over Nithyashree Mani before pairing with Abhinandh to beat Manush Shah and Anna Hursey 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 in the mixed doubles, sealing the tie with two matches to spare. U Mumba salvaged two wins in the closing contests. Captain Manush edged Spain’s Alvaro Robles 2-1 in the second men’s singles after winning the season’s first Golden Point, while Wales’ Anna Hursey rallied to beat Goa teenager Syndrela Das 2-1 in the final women’s singles.
For his all-round performance, Abhinandh swept the Match IQ Player of the Tie, Indian Player of the Tie and Shot of the Tie awards, while Szocs was adjudged the Foreign Player of the Tie. Earlier in the day, the UTT Juniors competition also commenced, with HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades beating Dabang Delhi TTC 5-4 and UP Prometheans overcoming Ahmedabad APL Pipers 6-3.
