Manush Shah Springs Major Upset, Propels Puneri Paltan Table Tennis to Semifinals
In a stunning upset, rising star Manush Shah shook the table tennis world by defeating World No. 17 Quadri Aruna in the Ultimate Table Tennis Season 4. This remarkable victory came as part of Puneri Paltan Table Tennis’ triumph over U Mumba TT, securing their place in the tournament’s semifinals. The match took place at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.
Puneri Paltan Table Tennis grabbed a total of 38 points throughout the league, enabling them to clinch a spot in the last four. On the other hand, U Mumba TT’s journey came to an end with 33 points in the league stage.
The Ultimate Table Tennis Season 4 is a franchise-based league promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).
Hailing from Vadodara, the 133rd-ranked player in the world, Manush Shah, delivered a scintillating performance in the Men’s Singles match against Quadri Aruna. He kickstarted the game with a positive mindset, utilizing his mesmerizing forehand shots to unsettle his opponent. The youngster asserted his dominance by winning the first game 11-7. However, Quadri Aruna retaliated fiercely, clinching the second game 11-8 and forcing a decider.
The third game became a nail-biting affair, with the young Indian paddler giving his all to secure an 11-8 win and complete a remarkable victory in the league.
Puneri Paltan Table Tennis extended its lead to 4-2 after Hana Matelova triumphed over Lily Zhang in a thrilling encounter. While Lily claimed the first game 11-7, Hana responded strongly, winning the second game through a golden point. In the third game, Hana emerged victorious with an 11-8 score.
The duo of Manush Shah and Hana continued their winning streak, defeating Manav Thakkar and Lily 2-1 and driving Puneri Paltan Table Tennis to a 6-3 lead in the tie. With impeccable coordination, they secured an 11-8 triumph in the first game but succumbed to a 4-11 defeat in the second. Nevertheless, they managed to clinch the decisive third game with an 11-5 win, further solidifying their team’s position.
Unfortunately for U Mumba TT, Manav Thakkar faced defeat in the fourth match of the tie. World No. 21 Omar Assar overpowered the Indian paddler in a hard-fought encounter, securing a 2-1 victory (8-11, 11-8, 11-5) and ultimately sealing the remarkable win for Puneri Paltan Table Tennis.
The final match of the tie witnessed Archana Kamath of Puneri Paltan Table Tennis emerging victorious over Diya Chitale with a 2-1 scoreline (8-11, 11-10, 11-5).
This exhilarating victory propelled Puneri Paltan Table Tennis into the semifinals of the Ultimate Table Tennis Season 4, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their upcoming matches.
