Indian heavyweights take centrestage as Ultimate Table Tennis League returns sans top international stars

Week in and week out, India’s top paddlers G Sathiyan and Manika Batra team up in high-stakes matches, representing the country as they chase prestigious titles and ranking points.On Wednesday, though, at a banquet hall in Pune, the duo smiled at each other, shared the podium at a media conference and then parted ways, knowing that for the next 21 days, they won’t be teammates, but rivals.After a gap of over three years, the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) League begins here on Thursday with six teams competing for the big prize.
Despite the high of multiple Commonwealth Games — the latest one in 2022 where Indian paddlers won seven medals, including four gold — the sport hasn’t managed to grab eyeballs in the country. A World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender was held in Goa in March this year, but that too failed to generate much interest amongst the general public.
Though the sport has been popular in pockets, it hasn’t become a craze, and the newly-elected officials of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), led secretary and former multiple national champion Kamlesh Mehta, want to change that. To bring that change, for them, restarting UTT was imperative.
“When you have a league with fierce competition, you immediately see the standard of the sport go up, the popularity goes up and more importantly, it enhances the belief among players that they can compete with the best,” Mehta told The Indian Express.
Sathiyan said the league plays a pivotal role in nurturing young talent, citing himself as an example. (File)
“We saw the change it brought about when we had the first season in 2017. The players had nothing but positives to say about it. They felt stronger when they played in international tournaments. Not only that, the reputation of the country amongst the table tennis fraternity has improved marginally because of the league and that can be seen in how our players are treated when they go for international tournaments,” Mehta, an eight-time national champion, said. Sathiyan said the league plays a pivotal role in nurturing young talent, citing himself as an example.
“When I played my first league, I was relatively inexperienced when it came to playing in tournaments abroad and now I am a so-called ‘seasoned player’ for India in the international circuit. It was UTT that gave me the initial confidence. When we got to train with international coaches and facilities, we got an idea of what we were missing,” he said.
30-year-old Sathiyan, who plays in the German Bundesliga, says that while the leagues abroad are much longer which gives them loads of time to train, the intensity of UTT is unmatched.
“Being together with your team all the time for three weeks is an experience that is unparalleled. We eat, train, and have fun sessions together. The intensity of competition also helps us form a bond. Even when you talk of facilities, this league ensures we are well taken care of. In terms of hospitality, this is miles ahead of any top leagues,” he said.
Money matters
While the exposure and facilities are a part of the lure, the top Indian players are also paid handsomely for participating.
According to sources, players like Sathiyan, Manika, and ten-time national champion Sharath Kamal are paid anywhere between Rs 10-15 lakh for the three-week tournament. Younger paddlers are also paid decent sums, making the sport a viable career option.
“What UTT has done is attract corporates, which was never done in table tennis before. The league, with its partnership with TTFI, not only sponsors the national ranking and quite a few zonal tournaments but also provides expertise. This encourages those tournaments to be smoothly run there building a great ecosystem,” Mehta said.
While there are six teams this season, sources said at least two more teams will be included next term.

Top International names missing
While each team this season has two international players, the very top names are missing. Being a tournament that doesn’t offer any international ranking points, it’s difficult for organisers to rope in top names, especially with the Asian Games coming in September and the Olympics next year. The organisers also took a conscious decision to include more Indians than foreigners in each team.
Then, there’s a packed WTT calendar too that seldom gives players any breathing time. The prize money on offer for every victory at WTT events is also quite decent, which, according to sources, makes it difficult for the league to lure the big names.
Teams
– Bengaluru Smashers-Chennai Lions-Dabang Delhi TTC-Goa Challengers-Puneri Paltan TT-U Mumba TT
When and Where
The league round-robin will be from July 13 to July 27. The semifinals will be held on July 28 and 29 and the final will be held on July 30. It is being held at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune.

Format
Each team plays five matches: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles
Streaming
Sports 18 SD, HD & JioCinema