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India is gearing up for the third installment of the Ultimate Table Tennis carnival, with the new season kicking off this Thursday, July 25th. All the action will unfold at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex, where the Dabang Delhi Table Tennis Club will be fighting hard to keep hold of their championship title. Following last month's player drafts, the rosters look formidable across the board, as teams have successfully recruited some of the most elite talent in the sport. To help you prepare, we've highlighted the top five players expected to dominate Season 3 of the UTT.Ultimate Table Tennis season set to commence on Thursday, the 25th of July. The Dabang Delhi Table Tennis Club would be keen to defend their crown with all the games this season being played at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex. With the player drafts being completed last month, most teams look strong and competitive, having picked up some of the best in the business. Here are the top five players to look out for in Season 3 of UTT.
Cheng I-Ching
The Goa Challengers made a bold statement by selecting Cheng I-Ching as their first pick in the 2019 Player Draft, securing the top-ranked female competitor in this year's UTT. While this marks her debut season in the league, the Chinese Taipei star is a seasoned veteran on the global circuit, boasting both silver and bronze medals from the 2016 and 2017 World Cups. For the Challengers to secure their first-ever championship, much will depend on Cheng's performance at the table.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran
Sathiyan stands as the sole player retained from the second season, continuing his journey with the Dabang Delhi Table Tennis Club. As the highest-ranked Indian athlete in the tournament, he brings a proven track record, including a victory at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Series in Belgium. His dominance was evident last season as well, where he established himself as the top Indian male player by winning ten of his matches in 2018.Dabang Delhi Table Tennis Club. He is the highest ranked Indian at the tournament and was the winner of the ITTF Challenge Series in Belgium in 2017. He was also the best ranked Indian male player in the previous season, having won ten of his games in the 2018 season.
Manika Batra
Manika Batra has become a true powerhouse in Indian table tennis over the last few years, consistently landing on the podium in international events. Now the top-ranked Indian woman in the UTT, Batra has already amassed five gold medals before turning 24. Her versatility was on full display at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, where she medaled in every single event she entered. She is expected to be a cornerstone of the RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata squad.th birthday. She won a medal in every category she competed in at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, showing her versatility as an individual as well as team player. Batra would be one of the main players for her UTT side, the RP-SG Mavericks Kolkata.
Bernadette Szocs
Coming off a brilliant debut in 2018 where she dominated with 13 wins, the Romanian star remains a force to be reckoned with. Currently the top seed in the European Table Tennis Union, she is renowned for her aggressive smashes and pinpoint service. Dabang Delhi will be relying heavily on her clinical playstyle to help them defend their title this season.
Doo Hoi Kem
Despite being only 22, Hong Kong's Doo Hoi Kem has already made a massive impact on the international table tennis scene. She particularly shines in team settings, evidenced by her bronze medals at the 2017 World Championships in Dusseldorf (mixed doubles) and the following year in Halmstad (team event). After a stellar second season where she racked up 171 points, she was a priority pick for U Mumba Table Tennis in the first round of the draft.
Written by: Saurabh Shankar