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Deadspin | Mammoth win home playoff debut, grab 2-1 lead over Knights  Apr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images   Lawson Crouse scored a pair of second-period goals as the Utah Mammoth doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.  Utah has won back-to-back games and leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday in Salt Lake City.  MacKenzie Weegar scored and added an assist and Dylan Guenther also tallied for the Mammoth, who became the sixth franchise that has debuted since the 1990s or later to win their first-ever home Stanley Cup playoff game.  Clayton Keller chipped in a pair of helpers and Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.  Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd responded for the Golden Knights, while Carter Hart made eight saves.  The Golden Knights cut the deficit to 4-2 at 16:52 of the third, with Dowd snapping a shot under the blocker of Vejmelka for his second of the playoffs. But that’s as close as the visitors would get.  Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span of the middle frame to give Utah a 4-0 lead.  The Mammoth took a 3-0 lead at 4:06 of the middle frame as Crouse redirected Nick Schmaltz’s pass over the shoulder of Hart for his third career playoff goal and first of the series.   Crouse added his second of the period at 9:48, snapping a shot blocker side past Hart from the top of the faceoff circle to give the Mammoth a four-goal lead.  Vegas got on the board at 13:20 as Eichel batted home the loose puck at the side of the net for his first of the series.  Vegas outshot Utah 13-6, but it was the Mammoth with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.  Weegar opened the scoring at 13:00 of the first period, leaning into a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle, which went off Hart’s mask and squeezed through for his second of the series.  Utah doubled its lead at 17:45 on a power play as Guenther one-timed a Logan Cooley pass up and over the shoulder of Hart for his second goal of the series.  When a best-of-seven NHL playoff series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664).  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Mammoth #win #home #playoff #debut #grab #lead #Knights

Deadspin | Mammoth win home playoff debut, grab 2-1 lead over Knights
Deadspin | Mammoth win home playoff debut, grab 2-1 lead over Knights  Apr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images   Lawson Crouse scored a pair of second-period goals as the Utah Mammoth doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.  Utah has won back-to-back games and leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday in Salt Lake City.  MacKenzie Weegar scored and added an assist and Dylan Guenther also tallied for the Mammoth, who became the sixth franchise that has debuted since the 1990s or later to win their first-ever home Stanley Cup playoff game.  Clayton Keller chipped in a pair of helpers and Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.  Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd responded for the Golden Knights, while Carter Hart made eight saves.  The Golden Knights cut the deficit to 4-2 at 16:52 of the third, with Dowd snapping a shot under the blocker of Vejmelka for his second of the playoffs. But that’s as close as the visitors would get.  Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span of the middle frame to give Utah a 4-0 lead.  The Mammoth took a 3-0 lead at 4:06 of the middle frame as Crouse redirected Nick Schmaltz’s pass over the shoulder of Hart for his third career playoff goal and first of the series.   Crouse added his second of the period at 9:48, snapping a shot blocker side past Hart from the top of the faceoff circle to give the Mammoth a four-goal lead.  Vegas got on the board at 13:20 as Eichel batted home the loose puck at the side of the net for his first of the series.  Vegas outshot Utah 13-6, but it was the Mammoth with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.  Weegar opened the scoring at 13:00 of the first period, leaning into a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle, which went off Hart’s mask and squeezed through for his second of the series.  Utah doubled its lead at 17:45 on a power play as Guenther one-timed a Logan Cooley pass up and over the shoulder of Hart for his second goal of the series.  When a best-of-seven NHL playoff series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664).  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Mammoth #win #home #playoff #debut #grab #lead #KnightsApr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Lawson Crouse scored a pair of second-period goals as the Utah Mammoth doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.

Utah has won back-to-back games and leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday in Salt Lake City.

MacKenzie Weegar scored and added an assist and Dylan Guenther also tallied for the Mammoth, who became the sixth franchise that has debuted since the 1990s or later to win their first-ever home Stanley Cup playoff game.

Clayton Keller chipped in a pair of helpers and Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.

Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd responded for the Golden Knights, while Carter Hart made eight saves.

The Golden Knights cut the deficit to 4-2 at 16:52 of the third, with Dowd snapping a shot under the blocker of Vejmelka for his second of the playoffs. But that’s as close as the visitors would get.

Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span of the middle frame to give Utah a 4-0 lead.


The Mammoth took a 3-0 lead at 4:06 of the middle frame as Crouse redirected Nick Schmaltz’s pass over the shoulder of Hart for his third career playoff goal and first of the series.

Crouse added his second of the period at 9:48, snapping a shot blocker side past Hart from the top of the faceoff circle to give the Mammoth a four-goal lead.

Vegas got on the board at 13:20 as Eichel batted home the loose puck at the side of the net for his first of the series.

Vegas outshot Utah 13-6, but it was the Mammoth with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Weegar opened the scoring at 13:00 of the first period, leaning into a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle, which went off Hart’s mask and squeezed through for his second of the series.

Utah doubled its lead at 17:45 on a power play as Guenther one-timed a Logan Cooley pass up and over the shoulder of Hart for his second goal of the series.

When a best-of-seven NHL playoff series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664).

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mammoth #win #home #playoff #debut #grab #lead #Knights

Apr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Lawson Crouse scored a pair of second-period goals as the Utah Mammoth doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.

Utah has won back-to-back games and leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday in Salt Lake City.

MacKenzie Weegar scored and added an assist and Dylan Guenther also tallied for the Mammoth, who became the sixth franchise that has debuted since the 1990s or later to win their first-ever home Stanley Cup playoff game.

Clayton Keller chipped in a pair of helpers and Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.

Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd responded for the Golden Knights, while Carter Hart made eight saves.

The Golden Knights cut the deficit to 4-2 at 16:52 of the third, with Dowd snapping a shot under the blocker of Vejmelka for his second of the playoffs. But that’s as close as the visitors would get.

Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span of the middle frame to give Utah a 4-0 lead.

The Mammoth took a 3-0 lead at 4:06 of the middle frame as Crouse redirected Nick Schmaltz’s pass over the shoulder of Hart for his third career playoff goal and first of the series.

Crouse added his second of the period at 9:48, snapping a shot blocker side past Hart from the top of the faceoff circle to give the Mammoth a four-goal lead.

Vegas got on the board at 13:20 as Eichel batted home the loose puck at the side of the net for his first of the series.

Vegas outshot Utah 13-6, but it was the Mammoth with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Weegar opened the scoring at 13:00 of the first period, leaning into a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle, which went off Hart’s mask and squeezed through for his second of the series.

Utah doubled its lead at 17:45 on a power play as Guenther one-timed a Logan Cooley pass up and over the shoulder of Hart for his second goal of the series.

When a best-of-seven NHL playoff series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664).

–Field Level Media

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RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: Padikkal credits Karnataka captaincy stint for helping him become better T20 batter <div id="content-body-70904740" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Devdutt Padikkal credited his stint as captain of Karnataka cricket team and some tactical tweaks for sharpening his game awareness and aiding his evolution into a more complete T20 batter.</p><p>Padikkal was speaking after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in Bengaluru on Friday, in which he played a key role alongside Virat Kohli and their bowling unit.</p><p>Padikkal said leadership responsibilities at the domestic level have given him a deeper understanding of match situations and opposition tactics.</p><p>“Definitely, I think being a captain has given me a different perspective of the game. It makes you think a lot more about how a bowler thinks, how captains are thinking on the field, what they might look to do.</p><p>“That has helped me refine parts of my game and respond better to situations,” he said at the post-match press conference.</p><p>“It gives me a little bit more of an understanding as to the situation that I’m in and how I need to respond. So yeah, I guess being the captain of Karnataka has definitely contributed in a positive way.”</p><p><b>READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/virat-kohli-comments-rcb-vs-gt-chinnaswamy-stadium-ipl-2026-home-campaign-royal-challengers-bengaluru/article70904397.ece" target="_self">Virat Kohli hopes to return to ‘special’ Chinnaswamy later this season after RCB’s win over Gujarat Titans</a></b></p><p>The left-hander, who has shown marked improvement in his white-ball approach, added that his transformation is part of a natural progression.</p><p>“I think it’s time we forget the previous version. This is who I am now. You identify areas to improve and keep working on them,” he said.</p><p>Padikkal heaped praise on Kohli for the kind of intensity with which he plays the game despite achieving almost everything cricket could offer. His big partnership with Kohli sealed the game in RCB’s favour as it completed a chase of 206 with seven balls to spare.</p><p>He said Kohli’s intensity and passion rubs on to others in the dressing room.</p><p>“I think the biggest thing for me is his energy and intensity that he brings to every single game, every single net session. Although he’s achieved everything that is there to be achieved in this game, he still continues to give his 100 per cent in every single practice session and every single match that he plays. And that kind of commitment is very hard to find.</p><p>“And when you see someone really so driven and so passionate about the game, it really rubs off to everybody in the side as well. So I’m sure his energy is helping everyone in the team,” Padikkal said.</p><p>He also credited the RCB environment for supporting his growth.</p><p>“Since joining RCB, the management has been really good in giving me direction and a pathway. The environment in the group has been special,” he noted.</p><p>He pointed out that technical adjustments while transitioning from red-ball to T20 cricket have played a crucial role.</p><p>“If you compare my Ranji Trophy batting with IPL, you can clearly see the changes. But the belief and confidence remain the same,” he explained.</p><p>Speaking about the match, Padikkal said RCB’s bowlers did well at the death to keep GT in check.</p><p>“The last three overs (towards the end) were really important. We felt they were 15-20 runs short, which gave us confidence going into the chase,” he said.</p><p>However, he acknowledged the need to address middle-order collapses.</p><p>“Losing three or four wickets in a cluster is something we need to sharpen. We could have finished the game earlier,” he admitted.</p><p>On RCB’s chasing template, Padikkal stressed the importance of staying ahead of the required rate.</p><p>“If the rate is 10, we try to go at 11 or 12, especially in the powerplay. That cushion helps if wickets fall,” he said, adding that such an approach reflects the demands of modern T20 cricket.</p><p>Padikkal also expressed satisfaction with his own performance, particularly his ability to clear the ropes.</p><p>“The biggest plus for me was the sixes. I hit six sixes, which is not very common for me. That was quite special,” he added.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 25, 2026</p></div> #RCB #IPL #Padikkal #credits #Karnataka #captaincy #stint #helping #T20 #batter

Deadspin | Michael Harris II comes off Braves bench for clutch hit, win vs. Phillies  Apr 24, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images   Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help the Atlanta Braves rally for a 5-3 win on Friday and hand the visiting Philadelphia Phillies their 10th straight loss.  The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games.  Harris was a late scratch from the starting lineup due to a strained left quad but came off the bench to deliver the key hit in the sixth inning. Facing rookie Andrew Painter, Harris batted for Eli White and slapped a fastball that just got over the glove of center fielder Brandon Marsh, allowing Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubon to score.  Pinch-runner Jorge Mateo entered for Harris, stole third base and scored on Painter’s wild pitch.  The winning pitcher was Grant Holmes (2-1). He threw six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks, fanning four. A key strikeout came against slugger Kyle Schwarber with the bases loaded to end the fourth.   Aaron Bummer, Joel Payamps and Robert Suarez each finished the game with one inning of scoreless relief. Suarez allowed runners to reach second and third in the ninth, but retired Marsh on a comebacker to end the game. Suarez earned his third save.  Painter (1-2) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks with one strikeout.  Trae Turner got the Phillies on the board with a two-run homer, his third, in the third inning, but the Braves tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer, his second.  Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field solo homer in the fifth inning, his sixth, to put the Phillies ahead 3-2. It was the 800th extra-base hit of his career and he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Michael #Harris #Braves #bench #clutch #hit #win #PhilliesApr 24, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help the Atlanta Braves rally for a 5-3 win on Friday and hand the visiting Philadelphia Phillies their 10th straight loss.

The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games.

Harris was a late scratch from the starting lineup due to a strained left quad but came off the bench to deliver the key hit in the sixth inning. Facing rookie Andrew Painter, Harris batted for Eli White and slapped a fastball that just got over the glove of center fielder Brandon Marsh, allowing Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubon to score.

Pinch-runner Jorge Mateo entered for Harris, stole third base and scored on Painter’s wild pitch.


The winning pitcher was Grant Holmes (2-1). He threw six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks, fanning four. A key strikeout came against slugger Kyle Schwarber with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

Aaron Bummer, Joel Payamps and Robert Suarez each finished the game with one inning of scoreless relief. Suarez allowed runners to reach second and third in the ninth, but retired Marsh on a comebacker to end the game. Suarez earned his third save.

Painter (1-2) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Trae Turner got the Phillies on the board with a two-run homer, his third, in the third inning, but the Braves tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer, his second.

Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field solo homer in the fifth inning, his sixth, to put the Phillies ahead 3-2. It was the 800th extra-base hit of his career and he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Michael #Harris #Braves #bench #clutch #hit #win #Phillies">Deadspin | Michael Harris II comes off Braves bench for clutch hit, win vs. Phillies  Apr 24, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images   Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help the Atlanta Braves rally for a 5-3 win on Friday and hand the visiting Philadelphia Phillies their 10th straight loss.  The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games.  Harris was a late scratch from the starting lineup due to a strained left quad but came off the bench to deliver the key hit in the sixth inning. Facing rookie Andrew Painter, Harris batted for Eli White and slapped a fastball that just got over the glove of center fielder Brandon Marsh, allowing Dominic Smith and Mauricio Dubon to score.  Pinch-runner Jorge Mateo entered for Harris, stole third base and scored on Painter’s wild pitch.  The winning pitcher was Grant Holmes (2-1). He threw six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks, fanning four. A key strikeout came against slugger Kyle Schwarber with the bases loaded to end the fourth.   Aaron Bummer, Joel Payamps and Robert Suarez each finished the game with one inning of scoreless relief. Suarez allowed runners to reach second and third in the ninth, but retired Marsh on a comebacker to end the game. Suarez earned his third save.  Painter (1-2) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks with one strikeout.  Trae Turner got the Phillies on the board with a two-run homer, his third, in the third inning, but the Braves tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer, his second.  Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field solo homer in the fifth inning, his sixth, to put the Phillies ahead 3-2. It was the 800th extra-base hit of his career and he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Michael #Harris #Braves #bench #clutch #hit #win #Phillies

Indian stars Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale headline the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 player pool, while stalwarts G. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra have been retained ahead of the auction.

Season 7 of UTT will be held from July 9 to July 26 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. The auction for the same will take place in Mumbai on April 28.

Thakkar and Shah return to the auction pool after missing last season due to international commitments, with the duo currently ranked World No. 5 in men’s doubles. Shah also plays with Chitale in mixed doubles, with the duo ranked World No. 6 and having created history as the first Indians to qualify for the WTT Finals.

Chitale, the most expensive pick in last season’s auction, returns to the pool after Dabang Delhi TTC opted to retain Sathiyan, extending his association with the franchise into a record seventh successive season. Batra, meanwhile, returns to the league after missing the previous edition due to injury, having been retained by Ahmedabad APL Pipers.

READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7

Ankur Bhattacharjee and doubles specialist Akash Pal have been retained by Kolkata Thunderblades and reigning champion U Mumba TT, respectively.

Dempo Goa Challengers and PBG Pune Jaguars have opted against using their retention and will start the auction with a full purse alongside newly inducted UP Prometheans.

Teams will build their rosters through the auction system, with each franchise allocated a purse of Rs 1 crore tokens. The auction will follow a structured format with revised base prices across four pools — Rs 20 lakh, Rs 12 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh tokens—with bidding increments set at 20,000 tokens.

Among the international names, Welsh paddler Anna Hursey could become the first player from her country to feature in the UTT while France’s Prithika Pavade adds further depth to the women’s pool. The men’s field sees fresh international entrants, including Adrien Rassenfosse, Eduard Ionescu, Nicholas Lum, and Youssef Abdelaziz. Returning names include Bernadette Szocs, Quadri Aruna, Alvaro Robles, and Yangzi Liu.

The Indian contingent also features rising stars, headlined by prodigy Divyanshi Bhowmick, who enters the auction pool for the first time. Bhowmick made history by winning gold in the U15 girls’ singles at the 2025 Asian Cadet Championships—the first Indian to do so in 36 years—and followed it up with a bronze medal at the 2025 World Youth Championships.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#UTT #Thakkar #Shah #Chitale #return #player #pool #Sathiyan #Manika #retained #ahead #Season #auction">UTT 2026: Thakkar, Shah, and Chitale return to player pool; Sathiyan, Manika retained ahead of Season 7 auction  Indian stars Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale headline the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 player pool, while stalwarts G. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra have been retained ahead of the auction.Season 7 of UTT will be held from July 9 to July 26 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. The auction for the same will take place in Mumbai on April 28.Thakkar and Shah return to the auction pool after missing last season due to international commitments, with the duo currently ranked World No. 5 in men’s doubles. Shah also plays with Chitale in mixed doubles, with the duo ranked World No. 6 and having created history as the first Indians to qualify for the WTT Finals.Chitale, the most expensive pick in last season’s auction, returns to the pool after Dabang Delhi TTC opted to retain Sathiyan, extending his association with the franchise into a record seventh successive season. Batra, meanwhile, returns to the league after missing the previous edition due to injury, having been retained by Ahmedabad APL Pipers.READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7Ankur Bhattacharjee and doubles specialist Akash Pal have been retained by Kolkata Thunderblades and reigning champion U Mumba TT, respectively.Dempo Goa Challengers and PBG Pune Jaguars have opted against using their retention and will start the auction with a full purse alongside newly inducted UP Prometheans.Teams will build their rosters through the auction system, with each franchise allocated a purse of Rs 1 crore tokens. The auction will follow a structured format with revised base prices across four pools — Rs 20 lakh, Rs 12 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh tokens—with bidding increments set at 20,000 tokens.Among the international names, Welsh paddler Anna Hursey could become the first player from her country to feature in the UTT while France’s Prithika Pavade adds further depth to the women’s pool. The men’s field sees fresh international entrants, including Adrien Rassenfosse, Eduard Ionescu, Nicholas Lum, and Youssef Abdelaziz. Returning names include Bernadette Szocs, Quadri Aruna, Alvaro Robles, and Yangzi Liu.The Indian contingent also features rising stars, headlined by prodigy Divyanshi Bhowmick, who enters the auction pool for the first time. Bhowmick made history by winning gold in the U15 girls’ singles at the 2025 Asian Cadet Championships—the first Indian to do so in 36 years—and followed it up with a bronze medal at the 2025 World Youth Championships.Published on Apr 25, 2026  #UTT #Thakkar #Shah #Chitale #return #player #pool #Sathiyan #Manika #retained #ahead #Season #auction

U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7

Ankur Bhattacharjee and doubles specialist Akash Pal have been retained by Kolkata Thunderblades and reigning champion U Mumba TT, respectively.

Dempo Goa Challengers and PBG Pune Jaguars have opted against using their retention and will start the auction with a full purse alongside newly inducted UP Prometheans.

Teams will build their rosters through the auction system, with each franchise allocated a purse of Rs 1 crore tokens. The auction will follow a structured format with revised base prices across four pools — Rs 20 lakh, Rs 12 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh tokens—with bidding increments set at 20,000 tokens.

Among the international names, Welsh paddler Anna Hursey could become the first player from her country to feature in the UTT while France’s Prithika Pavade adds further depth to the women’s pool. The men’s field sees fresh international entrants, including Adrien Rassenfosse, Eduard Ionescu, Nicholas Lum, and Youssef Abdelaziz. Returning names include Bernadette Szocs, Quadri Aruna, Alvaro Robles, and Yangzi Liu.

The Indian contingent also features rising stars, headlined by prodigy Divyanshi Bhowmick, who enters the auction pool for the first time. Bhowmick made history by winning gold in the U15 girls’ singles at the 2025 Asian Cadet Championships—the first Indian to do so in 36 years—and followed it up with a bronze medal at the 2025 World Youth Championships.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#UTT #Thakkar #Shah #Chitale #return #player #pool #Sathiyan #Manika #retained #ahead #Season #auction">UTT 2026: Thakkar, Shah, and Chitale return to player pool; Sathiyan, Manika retained ahead of Season 7 auction

Indian stars Manav Thakkar, Manush Shah, and Diya Chitale headline the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 player pool, while stalwarts G. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra have been retained ahead of the auction.

Season 7 of UTT will be held from July 9 to July 26 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. The auction for the same will take place in Mumbai on April 28.

Thakkar and Shah return to the auction pool after missing last season due to international commitments, with the duo currently ranked World No. 5 in men’s doubles. Shah also plays with Chitale in mixed doubles, with the duo ranked World No. 6 and having created history as the first Indians to qualify for the WTT Finals.

Chitale, the most expensive pick in last season’s auction, returns to the pool after Dabang Delhi TTC opted to retain Sathiyan, extending his association with the franchise into a record seventh successive season. Batra, meanwhile, returns to the league after missing the previous edition due to injury, having been retained by Ahmedabad APL Pipers.

READ | U Mumba TT retains title-winning coaching duo; Chakraborty set for Ultimate Table Tennis debut in Season 7

Ankur Bhattacharjee and doubles specialist Akash Pal have been retained by Kolkata Thunderblades and reigning champion U Mumba TT, respectively.

Dempo Goa Challengers and PBG Pune Jaguars have opted against using their retention and will start the auction with a full purse alongside newly inducted UP Prometheans.

Teams will build their rosters through the auction system, with each franchise allocated a purse of Rs 1 crore tokens. The auction will follow a structured format with revised base prices across four pools — Rs 20 lakh, Rs 12 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and Rs 3 lakh tokens—with bidding increments set at 20,000 tokens.

Among the international names, Welsh paddler Anna Hursey could become the first player from her country to feature in the UTT while France’s Prithika Pavade adds further depth to the women’s pool. The men’s field sees fresh international entrants, including Adrien Rassenfosse, Eduard Ionescu, Nicholas Lum, and Youssef Abdelaziz. Returning names include Bernadette Szocs, Quadri Aruna, Alvaro Robles, and Yangzi Liu.

The Indian contingent also features rising stars, headlined by prodigy Divyanshi Bhowmick, who enters the auction pool for the first time. Bhowmick made history by winning gold in the U15 girls’ singles at the 2025 Asian Cadet Championships—the first Indian to do so in 36 years—and followed it up with a bronze medal at the 2025 World Youth Championships.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#UTT #Thakkar #Shah #Chitale #return #player #pool #Sathiyan #Manika #retained #ahead #Season #auction

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