PBG Bengaluru Smashers will look to consolidate their position in the race to the playoffs when they take on table toppers Ahmedabad SG Pipers in Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.
The contest between PBG Bengaluru Smashers and Ahmedabad SG Pipers has plenty of potential mouth-watering clashes on offer, with a possible face-off between two of the world’s highest-ranked players in the competition — Manika Batra (world no. 25) and Bernadette Szocs (world no. 13).
The weekend’s double header action will continue later in the evening with defending champions Athlead Goa Challengers trying to get inside the top four when they meet hosts Chennai Lions. The franchise-based league is promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).
Currently placed at the third spot in the table, PBG Bengaluru Smashers have won nine matches so far and accumulated 32 points from their three ties. On the other hand, Ahmedabad SG Pipers are charging toward the play-offs with 24 points in their kitty from three ties. Meanwhile, Athlead Goa Challengers are also on course for a play-off berth with 21 points from three ties, and a win against Chennai Lions could propel them inside the top four.
PBG Bengaluru Smashers’ clash with Ahmedabad SG Pipers will also potentially pit the dominant Alvaro Robles against France’s Lilian Bardet, while Jeet Chandra’s bout with Manush Shah will be one for the table tennis fans to look out for.
Later in the day, Chennai Lions will be banking on the experience of the legendary Achanta Sharath Kamal to get the side’s campaign back on track in his potential match-up with Harmeet Desai. Meanwhile, Athlead Goa Challengers’ Yangzi Liu will be looking to bounce back from her first loss of UTT in a likely battle against Sakura Mori.
Squads
PBG Bengaluru Smashers: Manika Batra, Alvaro Robles (Spain), Lily Zhang (USA), Jeet Chandra, Taneesha Kotecha, Amalraj Anthony; Ahmedabad SG Pipers: Manush Shah, Bernadette Szocs (Romania), Lilian Bardet (France), Reeth Tennison, Krittwika Sinha Roy, Jash Modi
Chennai Lions: Achanta Sharath Kamal, Sakura Mori (Japan), Jules Rolland (France), Poymantee Baisya, Mouma Das, Abhinandh PB; Athlead Goa Challengers: Harmeet Desai, Yangzi Liu (Australia), Yashaswini Ghorpade, Sudhanshu Grover, Sayali Wani, Mihai Bobocica (Italy)