Chennai, Aug 26 (Agency) Led by Olympian and multiple medallist Achanta Sharath Kamal, home favourtie Chennai Lions defeating Dabang Delhi TTC 8-in the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here on Sunday evening. Bouncing back in style from their previous loss, Sharath, who is the league’s highest-ranked Indian paddler, showed his class in a 2-1 win over Dabang Delhi TTC’s Andreas Levenko in the tie’s first men’s singles, unleashing a range of powerful smashes on the Austrian making his debut in the fifth season of UTT. Sharaths’s win set the tone for the tie, with his teammates following suit later on. Subsequently, in the tie’s first women’s singles, Sakura Mori defeated Orawan Paranang, 2-1, to extend Chennai Lions’ lead. Mori proved her prowess in difficult circumstances, staying in control of the match despite repeated fightbacks from her opponent. While the Japanese paddler took the opening two games, her Thai counterpart varied her approach in the third and claimed a consolation victory, reducing Dabang Delhi TTC’s deficit.
The mixed doubles match between the two teams followed the same trend, as Chennai Lions’ pairing of Sharath and Mori beat Dabang Delhi TTC’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Paranang 2-1. The hosts secured the tie in the very next match, with Jules Rolland defeating local boy Sathiyan two games to one. In the final match of the tie, Dabang Delhi TTC’s Diyale Chitale scripted personal history. The Mumbai girl, who used to watch IndianOil UTT as a fan from the stands, won her first match ever in the league in her second year. She beat Poymantee Baisya 3-0. For her impressive victory, Chitale scooped the Indian Player of the Tie honour. Meanwhile, Chennai Lions’ Mori claimed the Foreign Player of the Tie gong, while Rolland was awarded with DafaNews Shot of the Tie award. Scores: Chennai Lions bt Dabang Delhi TTC 8-7: Sharath Kamal bt Andreas Levenko 2-1 (11-5, 11-8, 8-11); Sakura Mori bt Orawan Paranang 2-1 (11-10, 11-8, 4-11); Sharath/Mori bt Sathiyan/Paranang 2-1 (11-6, 11-6, 9-11); Jules Rolland bt Sathiyan G. 2-1 (11-7, 11-9, 8-11); Poymantee Baisya lost to Diya Chitale 0-3 (9-11, 7-11, 5-11)