In the opening match of Season 4 of the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis league held in Pune on July 14, 2023, the Bengaluru Smashers’ Manika Batra emerged victorious against Diya Chitale from U Mumba TT with a score of 2-1.
The competition took place at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mahalunge-Balewadi. The franchise-based league, organized by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the supervision of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), has revolutionized Indian table tennis since its inception in 2017. Currently, the Bengaluru Smashers hold a 4-2 lead in team points against U Mumba TT, with three matches yet to be played.
The first match of the tie, featuring Men’s Singles, witnessed a surprising upset as the Bengaluru Smashers’ Kirill Gerassimenko, ranked 58th in the world, defeated Quadri Aruna, ranked 18th, with a score of 2-1 (11-3, 9-11, 11-8). This victory earned two valuable team points for the Bengaluru Smashers.
In the subsequent Women’s Singles match, Manika Batra showcased her exceptional skills and aggressive net play, securing a 2-1 (11-10, 7-11, 11-6) win against Diya Chitale, thereby extending her franchise’s lead to 4-2.