Champions Again! U Mumba Rally Past Dempo Goa to Retain UTT Season 7 Crown

Defending champions U Mumba TT produced a remarkable comeback to retain the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 title, defeating Dempo Goa Challengers 8-5 in a thrilling final on Sunday. The victory ended Goa's unbeaten campaign and earned U Mumba their second UTT crown, drawing level with Goa as the league's most successful franchise.

The title clash began in Goa's favour as Abhinandh PB defeated Lilian Bardet 2-1 in the opening men's singles before Bernadette Szocs fought back from a game down to overcome Anna Hursey, giving the hosts a 4-2 lead after the first two ties.

With their title defence hanging in the balance, U Mumba responded in style. Captain Manush Shah and Anna Hursey delivered a flawless performance in the mixed doubles, defeating Alvaro Robles and Syndrela Das in straight games. The commanding victory not only reduced the deficit but also extended the pair's unbeaten run together to six matches, shifting the momentum firmly in U Mumba's favour.

The decisive moment came in the men's singles when Manush Shah recovered after losing the opening game against Alvaro Robles. He edged a nail-biting second game 11-10 before dominating the decider 11-5, putting the defending champions within touching distance of the title.

The responsibility of sealing the championship then fell on Anusha Kutumbale, who held her nerve in a tense showdown against Syndrela Das. After Syndrela erased a 5-9 deficit to level the game at 10-10, Anusha stayed composed and clinched the decisive point 11-10, sparking jubilant celebrations from the U Mumba camp.

Featuring 42 players, including 14 Olympians, UTT Season 7 concluded with a fitting finale as U Mumba showcased resilience, composure and championship pedigree to defend their crown in memorable fashion.