UTT 2025 Preview: Goa Challengers aims for hat-trick of titles as season 6 kickstarts at EKA Arena

When Harmeet Desai led the Dempo Goa Challengers to a terrific triumph in Chennai last September, the team had scripted history. It became the first team to win two titles in Ultimate Table Tennis. As the franchise-based table tennis league returns for its sixth edition, Harmeet’s Challengers will be gunning to register a hat-trick of titles.

Goa Challengers – led by Gujarat’s leading paddler Harmeet – will begin its quest by taking on Ahmedabad SG Pipers, who will hope to see Amdavadis turn up to support it despite the IPL frenzy in town for the next four days.

The Pipers had a topsy-turvy campaign in the last edition. Despite receiving a setback in Manika Batra’s late pull-out due to a conspicuous injury, the Pipers will be banking on Ayhika Mukherjee to grab the opportunity and Ricardo Walther to absorb the pressure against Harmeet and Co.

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“To win it twice was thrilling last year. A hat-trick of titles – that too in Ahmedabad, my home state – will be an incredible achievement. We know how challenging it is, considering how competitive UTT is, but we are confident the Goa Challengers can repeat history,” Harmeet told Sportstar on Friday.

Manika’s injury has added to the list of prominent Indian absentees. Legendary A. Sharath Kamal hung up his boots in March while Manush Shah – the defending men’s singles National champion – and Manav Thakkar have preferred their pro commitments over UTT.

The leading Indians’ absence, though, will mean rising stars like Payas Jain, Akash Pal and SFR Snehit will have an opportunity to prove their mettle under pressure.

When Fan Siqi dons the Chennai Lions’ yellows, she will become the first Chinese paddler to grace the UTT arena – an indication of the growing global acceptance of the league.