UTT 2025: Jeet Chandra shines as Jaipur Patriots books semifinal spot after beating PBG Pune Jaguars
Jeet Chandra’s all-around performance meant that Jaipur Patriots did not miss skipper Kanak Jha one bit as the team comfortably booked its spot in the semifinals of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 on Wednesday.
The Patriots needed just six points to become the third team after defending champion Dempo Goa Challengers and Dabang Delhi TTC to book a spot in the knockouts. The team in pink registered a 9-6 win over PBG Pune Jaguars, also eliminating the latter from the competition, in front of barely 100-odd spectators at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad.
The league stage concludes on Thursday when Dabang takes on U Mumba. The Mumbai-based franchise needs to win five games to edge Kolkata ThunderBlades for the last semifinal spot.
World No. 29 Jha was forced to miss the tie due to a stomach bug. The same illness has already made the Challengers replace Tiago Apolonia with Vitor Ishiy, but the Patriots hope that the American will recover in time for the last-four fixture.
Chandra, beaming with confidence after stunning World No. 34 Ricardo Walther in its previous match, had a much easier opponent in compatriot Anirban Ghosh. The Patriots player, who usually dominates with his inside-out backhand shots, was also lethal with his step-around forehands down the line against an inconsistent Ghosh.
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The Jaguars brought back the experienced Reeth Rishya for singles after resting her for Taneesha Kotecha against Dabang. However, Reeth, who stays close to the baseline and controls the points with her serve, struggled to handle the variation in spin imparted on the ball by World No. 43 Britt Eerland.
Chandra and Eerland bounced back after dropping the opener to beat Reeth and Jaguars skipper Alvaro Robles in a clash of lefty-righty combinations in mixed doubles. The celebrations in the Patriots camp started after Chandra’s superb forehand winner down the line on match point, while in the middle, an elated Dutchwoman, Eerland, hugged the Indian.
Spaniard Robles’ night did not get any better as he dropped a game in his win over Yashansh Malik.
Korea’s Lee Zion, who replaced an injured Dina Meshref midway through the season, had to blank Sreeja Akula in the last singles to keep the Jaguars’ campaign alive.
But the top-ranked Indian maintained her unbeaten streak in singles despite being taken to the decider.
RESULT
Jaipur Patriots 9-6 PBG Pune Jaguars
Jeet Chandra bt. Anirban Ghosh 2-1 (11-8, 11-9, 10-11)
Britt Eerland bt. Reeth Rishya 2-1 (11-9, 11-6, 10-11)
Jeet Chandra/Britt Eerland bt. Alvaro Robles/Reeth Rishya 2-1 (9-11, 11-6, 11-7)
Yashansh Malik lost 1-2 (4-11, 11-6, 3-11) to Alvaro Robles
Sreeja Akula bt. Lee Zion 2-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-8
STANDINGS (Q – qualified for semifinals)
1. Dempo Goa Challengers (Q)
Ties played – 5, Ties won – 3, Matches won – 16, Points – 44
2. Jaipur Patriots (Q)
Ties played – 5, Ties won – 4, Matches won – 16, Points – 41
3. Dabang Delhi TTC (Q)
Ties played – 4, Ties won – 4, Matches won – 14, Points – 39
4. Kolkata ThunderBlades
Ties played – 5, Ties won – 2, Matches won – 14, Points – 36
5. PBG Pune Jaguars
Ties played – 5, Ties won – 2, Matches won – 9, Points – 34
6. U Mumba
Ties played – 4, Ties won – 2, Matches won – 11, Points – 32
7. Ahmedabad SG Pipers
Ties played – 5, Ties won – 2, Matches won – 8, Points – 30
8. Stanley’s Chennai Lions
Ties played – 5, Ties won – 0, Matches won – 7, Points – 29