Ultimate Table Tennis 2026: Manika Batra shines as Ahmedabad APL Pipers beat Pune Jaguars to top table

Manika Batra's straight-games victory over Prithika Pavade powered the Ahmedabad APL Pipers to a dominant 10-5 win against the PBG Pune Jaguars. The victory moves Ahmedabad to the top of the Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 table

Hyderabad: Manika Batra produced a commanding straight-games victory over Prithika Pavade as Ahmedabad APL Pipers jumped to the top of the table with a 10-5 win over PBG Pune Jaguars in Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 powered by ChatGPT in Goa on Saturday.

Manika sealed the tie in style after Ahmedabad had laid the platform through their foreign duo Adrien Rassenfosse and Sofia Polcanova and the mixed doubles pairing of Payas Jain and Polcanova.

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Ahmedabad made the perfect start as Adrien Rassenfosse handed Snehit Suravajjula his first singles defeat of the season, recovering from a late fightback to clinch the contest in three games. Sofia Polcanova then bounced back after dropping the opener to edge Diya Chitale in their first-ever meeting, winning both the second and third games on Golden Point to double the advantage.

Payas Jain and Polcanova extended Ahmedabad’s lead with a composed mixed doubles comeback before Omar Assar kept Pune alive by edging Payas in another three-game battle. Manika, however, ensured there would be no late twist, controlling proceedings throughout to defeat Pavade in straight games and complete a comprehensive victory for the Pipers.

Polcanova was named both the ChatGPT Match IQ Player and Foreign Player of the Tie, while Manika claimed the Indian Player of the Tie award. Pavade, meanwhile, earned the Bisleri Shot of the Tie honour.

Earlier in the day, Dream UTT Juniors, Butterfly UTT’s grassroots competition running alongside Season 7, saw Dabang Delhi TTC defeat Dempo Goa Challengers 5-2 and U Mumba TT overcome UP Prometheans 5-1 in the semifinals, with both teams advancing to the final, scheduled to be played on Sunday, July 19.

The result: Ahmedabad APL Pipers bt PBG Pune Jaguars 10-5 (Adrien Rassenfosse bt Snehit Suravajjula 11-8, 11-6, 8-11; Sofia Polcanova bt Diya Chitale 4-11, 11-10, 11-10; Payas Jain/ Sofia Polcanova bt Anirban Ghosh/Prithika Pavade 9-11, 11-6, 11-7; Payas Jain lost to Omar Assar 6-11, 11-7, 9-11; Manika Batra bt Prithika Pavade 11-8, 11-7, 11-8).