Reigning champions Falcons TTC got off to a brilliant start to their CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 2, defeating Maharashtra United in the first tie of the season. The Falcons finished the tie 11-10, winning in the two men’s singles, the mixed doubles and the two women’s singles.

The tie started off with United’s Lily Zhang beating Falcon’s Sutirtha Mukherjee 3-0 (10-11, 8-11, 5-11). Despite Mukherjee’s aggressive start, Zhang’s brilliant backhand show got her back in Game 1 with a golden point. The second game unfolded similarly, as Zhang settled in and started launching aggressive returns to make a comeback. Zhang bagged the match convincingly 3-0, barring Sutirtha from securing any points.

In the men’s singles, Liam Pitchford beat Anthony Amalraj 2-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-9). With quick serves and returns, Amalraj dominated Pitchford and won game 1. The second game was nothing short of a treat to the eyes, as both ace players showcased athletic shots and kept the game neck and neck. Pitchford won the game to balance the match. From Amalraj leading 7-1, Pitchford went on to win it 11-9, earning the Falcons two crucial points from the match. United led the tie by 4-2 at this point.

The mixed doubles started off with a close game 1 going Falcon’s way. Bernadette Szocs and Sanil Shetty gave Elizabeta Samara and Amalraj Anthony a close fight, but the latter secured game two, drawing level. But the Falcons dominated the final game with brilliant chops, winning the match 2-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-6) and bringing Falcons back on track with 4 points against United’s 5 points.

In the foreign players’ men’s singles, Alvaro Robles beat Joao Monteiro 2-1 (8-11, 11-3, 11-9). Monteiro started off with an 8-11 victory in game 1. Rallies were longer in contrary to quick smashes in the previous matches and both gave each other par competition. Robles dominated with an 11-3 win in game 2, levelling the match. Despite making a comeback from 0-8, Monteiro could not save the game.

Though Samara showed some classy shots in her singles against Szocs, the latter looked more dominant and dangerous. She won first game 11-8 but lost the second 11-6, despite good competition. Szocs made a steep comeback with the final game, winning the match 2-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-6). Her two points gave Falcons an 8-7 lead against United.

In a bet to give United their lead back, Kristian Karlsson was put to face Falcon’s Sanil Shetty in the men’s singles. Karlsson dominated Game 1 with his serves close to the net, which Shetty found hard to return. Shetty could not turn his serves to his advantage, and Karlsson dominantly won the second game and match. Karlsson used the pressure built on Shetty to the fullest, barring him from gaining any point from the match (4-11, 3-11,8-11).

With United 10-8 up in the tie, Falcon’s Matilda Ekholm walked out aiming for a 3-0 victory against Madhurika Patkar. Ekholm bagged game 1 with ease, riding on her brilliant serves and strong backhand. Ekholm won the match with 2-0 after game 2, but the final game would decide the tie. Ekholm dominated the final game too, winning it (11-5, 11-7, 11-5), and the tie as Falcons emerged victoriously.

Rally of the day [Men’s]: Amalraj Anthony-Liam Pitchford (14)

Rally of the day [Women’s]: Matilda Ekholm-Madhurika Patkar (15)

Indian Oil Indian Player of the Day: Amalraj Anthony

CEAT Foreign Player of the Day: Kristian Karlsson

Kellogg’s Muesli Unstoppable Player of the Day: Lily Zhang

Shot of the Day: Bernadette Szocs