Highlights Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Final 2017: Falcons TTC clinch maiden title
Catch all the scores and updates from the Finals of Ultimate Table Tennis 2017 where Falcons T.T.C. square off against Shazé Challengers to win the maiden UTT title.
 "Highlights Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Final 2017: Falcons TTC clinch maiden title")
The Falcons win the maiden season of Ultimate Table Tennis and that draws curtains on the inaugural table tennis league in India, which has been thoroughly sensational. UTT did manage to capture the imagination of the people over its course of the three weeks. Comprising of several top-notch performance, amazing display of grit, skill and talent and more importantly it gives us a peek into the future of Indian table tennis.
What we just witnessed in the past three weeks is exactly what happens when there is an opportunity provided for such splendid sportsmen and sportswomen. The pioneering edition has set the precedent of what we can expect in the coming years and if the 1st season is anything to by it is going to be nothing less than awe-inspiring.
We at Firstpost would like to thank you for joining us on the live blog. Hope you liked it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. We will continue with covering more and more such fascinating events, tune into Firstpost.com for more updates, analysis and opinions. Take care and goodbye.
The winning team lines up to collect their winning medals.
Liam Pitchford wins the Most Valuable Player (Male)
Wu Yang wins the Most Valuable Player (Female) and the Ultimate One for scoring most number of points.
Gacina wins the award of Super-server winning 56 points just through his serves.
Wu Yang was absolutely brilliant tonight and she is awarded the best Foreign Player of the Tie
Who else but Sanil Shetty won the Indian Player of the Tie
Falcons are the first champions of @UltTableTennis , the winning point and celebrations. pic.twitter.com/04z1stNpMm
— Jigar Mehta (@jigsactin) July 30, 2017
A word for the runner’s up, Shaze Challengers, who played well throughout the tournament but just came up against a formidable Falcons side who displayed some high quality table tennis!
This will be remembered for a long, long time!
The moment that sealed the title for @falconsttc!#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/mxrc9HvfEo
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Historic moment for the Falcons Table Tennis Club
Congratulations to @falconsttc, the first ever CEAT Ultimate Table Tennis champions 👏👏👏#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/NdsaLA2xEH
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Incredible scenes here at the NSCI the Falcons player jump out of their seats as they win the 1st ever Ultimate table Tennis (UTT).
Championship point for Falcons! Annnd Li Ping has hit it long! FALCONS T.T.C. ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF FIRST EVER ULTIMATE TABLE TENNIS
Gerell nets a return it is back to level 9-9.
Gerell keeps his serve close to the net and Ping returns with his outstretched arm that doesn’t cross the net. Gerell leads 8-7! It is getting tense in here!
The cameramen are taking their positions to get the perfect shot of the winning moment, but is it here yet? Li Ping is tied 6-all with Gerell.
Ping has played some beautiful forehands here. No way there was any angle that allowed him to play that audacious shot. He bends and gets low to play the inside out shot right on the edge, in fact on the white line to to bag the 4th point.
Mini-comeback, saving couple of game points, but Challengers win the 9th point of the tie, 4-wins in a row for Shaze. Li Ping wins 11-8 in Game 1 of Match 8.
4-game point for Li Ping. Will there be another game or Gerell is waging a comeback here?
Li Ping’s hard forehand is returned tamely by Gerell he leads 4-2. Need more of such points!
Smart return by Li Ping. He has been in some form in the last couple of days. He leads 7-4
Both the paddlers share the spoils in the four points played so far. 2-2
Match 8: Li ping v Par Gerell
Li Ping will have to play out of his skins to take the tie into the final match.
Ying sweeps the match 7 (3-0). Mukherjee put on brave fight but couldn’t get past World no. 9. Despite the clean sweep by Challengers, Falcons lead 13-8 in the tie
Take a bow, Han Ying! This time her chance to show her attacking prowess! Super rally, hard and flat shots, some luck from the top of the net but the rally continued till Mukherjee’s forehand ended up in the net.
Ying plugs away with a couple of points but Suthirtha is the winner of the spectacular ones, rally of forehand smash and Mukherjee gets the 5th point.
Mukherjee pushes Ying way back with some crunching smashes to win the 4th point. What a show she has put up here.
The change in the pace of the game there was such a delight to see
Both players accelerated hard there ⚡️⚡️⚡️#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame https://t.co/xI13blp52k pic.twitter.com/gUisDA93vZ
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Ying takes the game 2 11-8 but not without a fight from Mukherjee, the World no.9 had to work for her points. Tie: Falcons 13 -7 Challengers
Oh! Unfortunately Mukherjee misses to get the top spin right! She had made a comeback from 9-4 to 9-8. Ying was under some sort of pressure but was released once she missed the shot. The entire crowd groans in “Ohhh!”
Mukherjee wins 3 points in a row! The 3rd point was similar to the exchange of the forehand rally that happened a couple of points before and Ying smashes it into the net this time. 9-7 now.
Mukherjee tries the attack on the 3rd ball, but it takes the top of the net and goes out. 9-4 to Han Ying.
Beautiful! What a stunning point! The slow chopping game was broken with some fast forehand counters and Suthirtha comes on top. 4 quick shot exchange and it is 4-4 in game 2
Edge of the table to win the last point of the game 1. Ying raises her hand and accepts the fortune, but she was up by 6 game points before that. 11-4 to win a tie-point for the Challengers. Tie: Falcons 13- Challengers 6
Ying and Mukherjee engage in a long rally as the crowd starts applausing and Ying sees the opportunity with the ball rising a little and opens up to play the forehand winner! Ying lead 7-4
Suthirtha on the attack and she takes the lead 3-2 with an absolutely thumping forehand smash! Han Ying looked out of shape to return that.
Falcons’ Pitchford surely enjoyed that
'That's right!' says @liampitchford as he smashes his way to the win.#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame https://t.co/xI13blp52k pic.twitter.com/l3eiMKH1NX
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Match 7 Han Ying v Sutirtha Mukherjee
(Ying can prolong the tie here. It is Challenger’s best chance to put a 3-0 victory into this game. Remember Suthirtha isn’t somebody who will go down easily but you got to back the World no. 9)
Ghosh’s return goes long and end of brilliant match! Pitchford’s earlier shot came of the the top of the net that induced the error and that is how it goes. Earlier Pitchford won a super point by blocking Ghsoh’s strong flat hit. Falcons a point away from clinching the first ever title! Tie: 13-5
Pitchford takes the lead back from 5-7 it is 9-7 to the Brit.
Ghosh apologises for the ball rising from the net as he wins the point with Pitchford spraying it wide.5-5
Beauty! Down the line backhand flick by Pitch does it for him. Too good for anyone to bring that back. Falcons just a couple of points away. Tie: 12-5.
Unbelievable Ghosh he has brough it back from 8-10 to 10-10. He is fighter! What a game! Challengers aren’t throwing in the towel just yet. All to be decided on Golden point!
After two super winners by Ghosh, Pitchford plugs back a point he is up by 2 game points.
Pitchford is not going to remain quiet as he comes back strongly to take the lead 5-8 in game 2
Ghosh tries to lift the low ball but doesn’t get it right. Puts it into the net. 9-5 to Pitchford.
Ghosh has come out with an extra ordinary performance, moving swiftly across the lengths of the table and she has managed to beat Liam Pitchford in game 1. Tie score: 11-5. the match will go into 7th match!
Match 5: Soumyajit Ghosh v Liam Pitchford
Wu Yang wins the match 3-0 the revenge has been avenged! Falcons 11-5 in the tie. 3 points away from the title.
Wu Yang is coming hard at Han ying and she is up by three game points. Not looking good for Challengers. Yang smashes it hard is defended the first time and she does it again but the block doesn’t come off the next time.
Two powerful backhand smash defended by World no.13 Wu Yang and then she smashes it herself to gain the point. 5-7 in Ying’s favour but that was some point of the many we have had in this match alone.
Ying’s return to Wu Yang’s smash ends in the net as Wu Yang claws back from 4-7 to 7-7-.
Wu Yang’s early aggression doesn’t come off as her forehand goes wide and then she repeats it again to send it long. 7-4 to Han Ying now.
It is 5-4 to Hang Ying in the last game of Match 5. Challengers are sliding down as Falcons are just 4 points away from winning the title.
Wu Yang wins it as Ying’s return goes long. And Wu Yang gets the 2nd game and with that the match, yet her personal battle with her isn’t over. Ying clean swept Wu Yang in the earlier match. She would be aiming to avenge it in the finals! 11-4 Game 2 score. Tie: Falcons 10 Challengers 4
Yang has been more attacking of the two defensive players and she is ahead by 6-points. These are 6 game and match points!
How do these two women do it? Matter of who bats their eye 1st. Gripping. @falconsttc @TTChallengers #UTTFinal https://t.co/88kJDKU5t0
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) July 30, 2017
Wu Yang sends it wide and Han Ying gets a point. Ying trails 4-5
Ying doesn’t get under the slice perfectly and then sends it long to lose the early lead, It is squared off at 3-3.
But Wu Yang gets past Han Ying! Entralling contest! What a performance thi, she saves the game point and then a couple of smashes to win game 1 and put behind the ghosts of the Delhi tie. Tie:9-4 to Falcons!
GOLDEN POINT FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN A ROW!
Wow! There is a sense anticipation, build up and tension with every point here. the tie, the match, the score everything seems to come at a standstill when these two play! Every point is dissected carefully. 7-7 at the moment.
Hardly to chose and that isn’t surprising, but Ying has stitched three points on the trot to lead 5-4.
This is tight. It looks like the choppers are practicing but they aren’t it is a hard fought match with some different level of confidence! Wu Yang blocks a thunderous smash by Han Ying to win the 4th point she lead 4-2.
Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan is in the house and the crowd welcome him with rapturous applause.
Clash of the top seeds in UTT Wu Yang versus Han Ying in Match 5. Last time all games went into the golden point! What do have here!?
And that is it! Gacina wins his team a very important point. The tie reads 8-4 for now, still in Falcon’s favour, but it can change very quickly. the next match is between the two defending titans!
Best rally of the tie so far! Brilliant by both the players. they released shots which were hardly imaginable. Gacina powered his way to win the game as Pitchford’s shot goes wide. 9-6 to Gacina!
Final game of match 4; Challengers need this badly! Gacina’s third-ball backhand attack takes him 2-points clear of Pitchford at 7-5.
Gacina’s super effort in Game 1
Liam Pitchford had Gacina running, but didn't have the accuracy!#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame https://t.co/xI13blp52k pic.twitter.com/9LVhxP2kfZ
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Pitchford has turned it around, saves the game point and then takes the golden point with Gacina’s shot crashing into the net. Pumps his chest and points towards the Falcons’ shed. Tie score: 8-3 to Falcons
Fast hands! Gacina has one game point with a forehand smash!
Pitchford’s return ends in the net. Gacina with a one-point lead at 9-8
Gacina has pulled off a fine point here. Pitchford got a lucky break with the ball taking the top off the net, Gacina goes low, almost under the table and runs back as he expects the return to be strong. He manages to stretch and return a forehand shot from wide and far off the court and continues the rally until Pitchford errors.
All level at 5-5 in game 2!
In case you just joined us, here is quick glance as to what happened in the opening match:
Highlights: Li Ping got the @TTChallengers off to a wonderful start with a 2-1 win over Sanil Shetty in Match 1!#UpTheGame #CEATUTTFinal pic.twitter.com/qMGWf0eRx7
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Challengers’ finally get a point, through Gacina, He gets the 3rd point of the night for his side. Tie score 7-3 in Falcons’ favour.
Pitchford’s backhand takes the top of the net and goes long. It is 9-2 to Gacina.
Gacina has hit the screws out of Pitchford’s serve. Pitchford’s return goes high but was never going to land on the table. Gacina leads 5-2 in game 1
Gacina’s aggrssive style of play has been no match to Pitchford. He leads 7 to 3.
Game-wise break up of Match 3:
A clean-sweep! Lee Ho Ching and @ShettySanil grab three huge points for @falconsttc! #CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame https://t.co/xI13blp52k pic.twitter.com/FVxodEhlzz
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Match 4 is between the captain v captain as Andrej Gacina and Liam Pitchford step up. Gacina needs to win the match, probably a clean sweep is what is really required otherwise it will be one way traffic.
Gem! Two stunning forehand shots by Sanil Shetty does it for himself and Lee Ho Ching. From 8-9 it was only Shetty to finish the game 8-11. Falcons must be ecstatic! They take the mixed doubles 3-0. Falcons have huge lead of 7-2
Ghosh’s shot comes off the net and Shetty had to adjust to his shot and it ends up in the net. 8-9 to Falcons!
Around the table! Spectacular Shetty!
We've seen @ShettySanil do the extraordinary, but this just took it to the next level 😱😱#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame https://t.co/xI13blp52k pic.twitter.com/kA5FOkw3Kp
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Tighter game 3. It is 7-all at the moment! Challengers need the point desperately.
Shetty and Lee Ho Ching have ran amok in game 2, they haven’t allowed Ghosh and Sojla to get into any rhythm! Absolutely no answers! Tie: 6-2 to Falcons TTC
That shot from Falcons is so good by Sanil Shetty that Challengers’ coach appreciated that with a standing ovation. Angular shot by Shetty from wide of the table, giving no chance to Sojla.
Sojla had to reach out for the net ball and she fails to return successfully.. Falcons have another point and win the game 1 of the mixed doubles. Tie score: 5-2 to Falcons!
Solja smacks it into the net after Challengers had equaled 9-9 with the Falcons but with that point the challengers pair are one game point down.
Ghosh has hit the ball long twice in a row and Falcons move towards the 11 point mark! 9-7 to Falcons
Sanil’s pendulum serve isn’t returned well by Ghosh and Falcons lead 6-5. Hardly anything between them.
Sanil’s inside out forehand wins Falcons the 5th point as they lead 4-5 in game 1.
Super counter! But Solja’s return to Ching’s forehand goes long. Falcons lead 2-1
We have the very important mixed doubles match: Petrissa Sojla and Soumyajit Ghosh v Lee Ho Ching and Sanil Shetty
(Clash of the equals, though Ghosh and Solja have been tremendous in last couple of encounters, they will push Shetty and Ching to their limits)
Wu Yang runs away with the final game as well.She takes game 3 (11-3). A clean sweep. This are three vital points as today whoever reaches to 14-points first take the title! Falcons TTC 4 points to Challengers’ 2
A walkthrough of what each of these glittering trophies are for
.@khuri8 gives you the lowdown on all the awards up for grabs tonight!#UpTheGame #CEATUTTFinal pic.twitter.com/myH5WZnFfY
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
Comfortable win for Wu Yang, she takes the second game with a comprehensive margin (11-2) Falcons lead the tie 3-2
Brilliant return by Wu Yang from far off the table, Das’ smash was towards the right of Yang and she was in her usual backhand position, she did well to switch her grip and block the smash, Das’ follow up goes long. Yang leads 9-2.
Das stomps her feet in irritation as another topspin of hers goes long. Wu Yang leads game 2 (6-1)
That’s it. Das’ early aggressive approach is cancelled by Wu Yang’s calm and temperament, as she takes game 1 (11-6) Tie score: 2-2
Yang too changes her plan, goes to the edge of the table and smashes powerfully into Das and there is no certainly no return to that! Couple of long shots by Das put Yang back into the lead 6-5.
Das has found the net a couple of times and hasn’t returned it cleanly, Yang leads 9-6.
Wow! Now Yang commits a mistake, her slice goes long, it is 5-2 to Mouma Das!
Das’ tactics have come to good use as few cracking punch have put Yang into discomfort of sorts and she leads 4-2.
Das starts off with the plan to attack straightaway, She creates room and goes for the kill to Yang’s chop but ends straight into the net
Match 2: Mouma Das v Wu Yang
Saves one but that isnt enought. Shetty is pumped as soon as the ball goes long! He has clinched a point for the Falcons! Super start to the finals! Tie: Challengers 2-1 Falcons
Can Li Ping come back again to clean sweep? As Shetty has released one forehand winner after another. Shetty leads by 4-game points.
Nothing different in game 3. Nothing to choose between the two. It is 6-6. Both players have been involved in fascinating rallies. Short rallies but quick and fast.
Ping wins the golden point and with that he has taken both the opening points of the Match 1. Terrific start for the Challengers, lead the tie 2-0
Ping makes a comeback now, with some few brilliant forehands. First a third ball attack catching Sanil wrong footed and then a wide smash to take it into the golden point.
Li Ping finds the net couple of times and he is down by two game points.
Shetty cancels out Li Ping’s early advantage with some really fierce forehand winners. Li Ping lobs it for form far off the table but Shetty relentlessly kept at it. 8-8.
Fantastic shot by Li Ping. He has two game points with a hard, fast and low to the net forehand shot that stretch Shetty to his fullest, very difficult for Shetty to get it from that angle.
Shetty gets a lucky break as the ball bobs from the top of the net. He saves one game point but cannot do it again. Challengers begin with a win in game 1.
Shetty stops Li Ping’s streak as he won three points in a row and it eas his turn to equal it from 4-7 to 7-7. Brillant forehand rally both the players, but Sanil’s winner was unplayable.
See-saw beginning to the opening game of the tie, both paddlers play close to net and then unfurl strong shots. Li Ping leads 5-4.
Shetty’s forehand top spin goes wrong and there is huge cheer from Challengers camp it is 2-2
1st match we have is between Li Ping v Sanil Shetty
(Both have played instrumental role in their team’s success, important opener)
The players are warming up!
The @falconsttc going through their drills, harder and stronger now! #CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/ESjdPGhpJT
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
All the awards up for grabs tonight.#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/CyVT6r5XFf
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
She's a beauty, isn't she? 😍#CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/kxUEZGcA1F
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
The final is moments away. Are you excited?
It all boils down to this! Two of the finest table tennis teams around are ready to #UpTheGame and win the #CEATUTTFinal! Who'll it be? pic.twitter.com/FVW1EBGLuV
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
The men who will hold the key for their respective teams.
The men who'll lead the charge! #CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/2l1OkCrEtK
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
These are the line-ups for the summit clash.
One final time... #CEATUTTFinal #UpTheGame pic.twitter.com/McYBCUaL8H
— Ultimate Table Tennis (@UltTableTennis) July 30, 2017
A very good evening to all of you to Firstpost’s liveblog of Ultimate Table Tennis finals between two top teams- Shaze Challengers and Falcons T.T.C. – it will be nothing short of a cracker with some exceptional players on either side.
The Challengers have the mental edge over the Falcons going into the finals, with a 16-11 win in the Delhi leg opener. But, that will count for very little once the finals begin.
Whatever the result maybe this has been a wonderful 17 days of Table Tennis, which is coming to an culmination with hopefully a thrilling final to be played tonight.
In the galaxy of star performers lined up today, none as dazzling as Wu Yang and Han Ying. Two defensive geniuses, who scythe, chop and make the ball whirl at their own will.
Let us not get ahead of ourselves and we shall wait for the tie to unfold. Stay tuned with us as we bring in all the updates, scores and all the action from the NSCI, Mumbai.
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