Foreign recruits helped Warriors TTC record a convincing 14-7 victory over Empowerji Challengers in the Ultimate Table Tennis on Tuesday.
Warriors, who were languishing at the bottom of the six-team table, rocketed to the third spot (20 points) with this victory and were placed behind leaders Dabang Smashers (31 points) and RP-SG Mavericks (24 points).
Challengers are at the bottom with 15 points after the conclusion of the Pune leg.
Maharashtra United are placed fourth (20 points) while defending champions Falcons TTC share the last spot with 15 points.
After Warriors’ Sreeja Akula lost the first woman’s singles to world No 20 Lee Ho Ching 0-3, the Warriors came back roaring into the tie with Aruna Quadri, Chih Huan Chuang, Sofia Polcanova and Hana Matelova winning their respective singles matches to wrest the lead.
World No 18 Sofia with captain Sharath Kamal pocketed the mixed doubles as Warriors won five matches and lost just two.
Indian players had an off day as Sreeja, Manav Thakkar (Challengers) and Sharath Kamal faltered.
Nigerian Quadri turned in a power-packed display to down the 18-year-old Thakkar 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-3) while the 19-year-old Sreeja lost to the Hong Kong player.
Sharath Kamal, who was good in the mixed doubles, struggled to get going against world No 40 Tiago Apolonia of Portugal 1-2 (5-11, 6-11, 11-6). The Indian veteran, however, gave the crowd something to cheer about by winning the third game with a 24-shot rally.
World No 15 Chih Yuan of Chinese Taipei caused the biggest upset of the evening, defeating Challengers’ captain and world No 12 Simon Gauzy 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-8). Austrian Sofia then increased the team’s tally by upstaging Hungarian Georgina Pota 2-1 (10-11, 11-4, 11-2).
Czech Matelova, playing her first singles match this season, completed Warriors’ dominance by defeating Divya Deshpande in straight games 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.
The event now shifts to Delhi’s Thyagraja Stadium where Smashers take on Mavericks in the first match.
The last leg, including the semifinals and final, will be played in Kolkata’s Netaji Stadium from June 26.
Results
Warriors TTC bt Empowerji Challengers 14-7
Women’s singles: Sreeja Akula lost to Lee Ho Ching (HK) 0-3 (7-11, 5-11, 6-11)
Men’s singles: Aruna Quadri (Nge) bt Manav Thakkar 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-3)
Mixed doubles: Sharath Kamal/ Sofia Polcanova (Aut) bt Arjun Ghosh/ Lee Ho Ching 2-1 (6-11, 11-10, 11-8)
Men’s singles: Chih Yuan Chuang (Tpe) bt Simon Gauzy (Fra) 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-8)
Women’s singles: Sofia Polcanova bt Georgina Pota (Hun) 2-1 (10-11, 11-4, 11-2)
Men’s singles: Sharath Kamal lost to Tiago Apolonia (Por) 1-2 (5-11, 6-11, 11-6)
Women’s singles: Hana Matelova (Cze) bt Divya Deshpande 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-9)
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