Chennai

The fifth season of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) will take place from August 22 to September 7 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. For the first time, it will feature an eight-team league, giving young Indian paddlers a platform to showcase their talent alongside top international players. The league’s expansion is driven by the increasing popularity of table tennis and notable Indian achievements in the sport.

Two new franchises, the Ahmedabad SG Pipers and the Jaipur Patriots, have been added, increasing the level of competition. The league will be held after the Paris Games to take advantage of the Olympic excitement in the country. Hosting the league in Chennai honors the city’s rich sporting heritage and its contribution to producing legendary paddlers, stated Niraj Bajaj, co-promoter of UTT.

The Goa Challengers, who defeated former champions Chennai Lions last year, will enter UTT 2024 as the defending champions. Other teams include Dabang Delhi TTC, U Mumba TT, Puneri Paltan, Bengaluru Smashers, and the two new franchises. Each team will have a roster of six players, including two foreign players, competing for the title this season.

The main goal of UTT is to elevate the status of table tennis in India, offering Indian players the opportunity to compete against the best in the world and advance Indian table tennis to new heights.