Foreign players stamped their class to help Warriors TTC record a heart-warming 14-7 victory on points over Empowerji Challengers in the CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis Powered by Kellogg’s at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi here 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 continue to languish 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 match to World No. 20 Lee Ho Ching 0-3, the Warriors came back roaring into the tie with Aruna Quadri, Chih-Yuan Chuang, Sofia Polcanova and Hana Matelova winning their singles to wrest the lead. World No. 18 Sofia also partnered with captain Achanta Sharath Kamal to pocket the mixed doubles match 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 showed some sparkle but it was not enough to challenge the Hong Kong player. Sharath Kamal came good in the mixed doubles but 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 something for the crowd to cheer 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 Thyagraj Stadium where Smashers take on Mavericks in the first match on Wednesday. The last leg, including the semis and final, will be played in Kolkata’s Netaji Stadium from June 26.

How they stand

(After Pune leg)

1. Dabang Smashers 31 points; 2. RP-SG Mavericks 24 points; 3. Warriors TTC 21 points, 4. Maharashtra United 20 points; 5. Falcons TTC 15 points; 5. Empowerji Challengers 15.

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: A 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: A 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)