Preview: Oilmax-Stag Yoddhas and RP-SG Mavericks face off in Tie 11 of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) at the Thyagaraj Stadium on Sunday. There is no denying that both teams are desperately in need of a win, as Oilmax-Stag Yoddhas are fifth in the table with 32 points, while the Mavericks are one step ahead of their opponents with 37 points, going into the clash.
Sharath Kamal Achanta of RP-SG Mavericks in action during the practice session of the UTT. Ultimate Table Tennis
The Yoddhas are heading into Sunday’s clash at the back of a humiliating defeat against Falcons TTC a few days ago. Apart from Polina Mikhailova’s 3-0 win over Sutirtha Mukherjee, the Yoddhas hardly troubled the Falcons in any of the Matches. As a result, they endured the biggest defeat in the competition so far. There is no doubt that the thrashing defeat would have surely dented their confidence, and it will be interesting to see their approach in today’s clash against the Mavericks.
On a positive note for the Yoddhas, Doo Hoi Kem has been their star performer so far, as the 20-year-old bailed the team out in crunch situations many times. After suffering a shocking 3-0 loss against the in-form Wu Yang in the last Tie, Kem would be hoping to come good against the Mavericks outfit on Sunday.
Aruna Quadri’s inconsistency has been a problem for the Yoddhas and the talented African will be tested in today’s clash against the likes of Sharath Kamal & Co.
On the other hand, RP-SG Mavericks endured two back-to-back defeats, before claiming a nail-biting 14-13 win against Dabang Smashers TTC. Going into this clash, the biggest positive for them is the rollicking form of Sharath Kamal, as the Indian veteran won both his Matches in the previous Ties against the World No. 8, Won Chung Ting and Marcos Freitas.
In addition to his heroics in the Men’s Singles category, Kamal has also been stupendous in Mixed Doubles. The Yoddhas could be in for a tough time against the 35-year-old tonight.
Sabine Winter has been dismantling her Indian opponents so far, but the same cannot be said in the foreign category as she is yet to win a match against a foreign opponent. The German would be hoping to end that underwhelming record when she gets to the table against the Yoddhas in tonight’s encounter.
Updated Date: Jul 23, 2017 23:08:15 IST
Highlights
ICYMI: Shot of the day, by India's very own Sharath Kamal
Oilmax-stag Yoddhas win the tie 16-11 against RP-SG Mavericks
Mikhailova wins the final match 2-1 after losing the first game. She has been exceptional in the tournament as well as tonight. The tie ends with Yoddhas winning it 16-11 against Mavericks.
Aruna has played some unreal shots- wide of the table, hooking forehands, running forehands, bending away or off balance, doesn't really matter, he has made sure that he has got behind the ball to smash it across. And put the ball back on the table. He wins the final game and with that Yoddhas take an insurmountable lead in the Tie. Yoddhas 14-10 Mavericks
She wins it after losing two match points. Yoddhas lead 11-10 in the Tie. Super show by Batra she wins the game 11-5 and takes the match 2-1
Doo Hoi Kem has been swift and her smash have come out perfectly. Another dominating performance by the Hong Kong paddler. She has given her Team the lead in the Tie as she takes all-3 points. Tie score tilts in Yoddhas' favour (8-7) but still there are 12 points to play for.
But, she has won the final two points to take the game. She yells after winning the first game, as she always does. Tie score: Yoddhas trail 7-6
And there it is! Pucar hits it long and out to lose the game 11-5. Apolonia completes his second clean sweep of the day. 6/6 for the Portugese! Tie score: Mavericks 7 -5 Yoddhas
Another forehand top spin winner from the edge of the court get it across the table, wins the match for them. They take the match 2-1 and now the Tie reads 5-4 in Mavericks' favour.
Yoddhas equalize Mavericks in the tie 3-3, as the world no. 28 brushes aside Archana Kamath 3-0.
Oh! Apolonia wins it 3-nil. Mavericks take all the points from the first match. Kumar has no answer to Apolonia's top spin and he cannot stretch it into the golden point. Tie score: Mavericks 3-0 Yoddhas
LIVE NEWS and UPDATES
23:08 (IST)
All the results of Day 11:
23:07 (IST)
Yoddhas take the much needed 16 points of the Tie, it will help their bid into the top 4 as the league progresses towards its final stages, before the knockout stages begin. For Mavericks it is looking very grim unless they pull off some huge wins. Mavericks' only positive today was Tiago Apolonia's 6 points, Sharath Kamal dropped one points in the singles tie and lost 2 in the mixed doubles. Aruna Quadri and Manika Batra brought out their A games, both in the individual as well as in the mixed doubles. We have another cracker of a Tie line up for us tomorrow as Maharashtra United battle it out against Shaze Challengers. As always we will be on the liveblog, do tune in. Thank you for joining us today. Wishing everyone a very goodnight!
22:52 (IST)
ICYMI: Shot of the day, by India's very own Sharath Kamal
22:52 (IST)
Aruna Quadri wins the Foreign Player of the Tie
22:50 (IST)
Manika Batra wins the Indian player of the Tie.
22:49 (IST)
Oilmax-stag Yoddhas win the tie 16-11 against RP-SG Mavericks
22:47 (IST)
Mikhailova wins the final match 2-1 after losing the first game. She has been exceptional in the tournament as well as tonight. The tie ends with Yoddhas winning it 16-11 against Mavericks.
22:45 (IST)
Winter is trailing to Mikhailova who has been powerful and skillful. Her backhand flicks were on point. Winter really hand no answer to her onslaught, but she was at her heels with grabbing couple of points off Mikhailova's mistakes and her forehand winners.
22:41 (IST)
Winter loses the second game 7-11. Mikhailova and Winter to fight it in the final game to decide who takes the match. Tie score: Mavericks 11-15 Yoddhas.
22:38 (IST)
Both team needs points to survive in the tournament Winter has shown a big heart here, but did the right thing!
22:37 (IST)
Admirable sportswomanship by Sabine Winter. There was some deliberation regarding the point given against Mikhailova and Winter plays the ball wide on purpose, the crowd appreciates it.
22:35 (IST)
Sharath Kamal was in action early on, he won the match 2-1
22:34 (IST)
Both paddlers keeps pushing and trudging each other after the game is decided by the golden point and Winter has the win as Mikhailova's chop misses the edge of the table by a whisker. Mavericks 11- Yoddhas 14
22:31 (IST)
Mikhailova has played two incredible shots to win a single point, she is called a smashing chopper and she has justified why. A backhand chop wide and far of the court to get it back on to the table and then Winter unleashes a hard hitting forehand which is return with rapid backhand flick.
22:26 (IST)
Match 9: Sabine Winter (Mavericks) v Polina Mikhailova (Yoddhas)
Dead rubber as far as the tie goes, but both the teams are the bottom two sides. Mikhailova has had a great time in the tournament, so has Winter, barring today's upset she recieved at the hands of Manika Batra.
22:24 (IST)
Aruna has played some unreal shots- wide of the table, hooking forehands, running forehands, bending away or off balance, doesn't really matter, he has made sure that he has got behind the ball to smash it across. And put the ball back on the table. He wins the final game and with that Yoddhas take an insurmountable lead in the Tie. Yoddhas 14-10 Mavericks
22:19 (IST)
WOW! He wins the 4th point as well, magnificent turnaround by the Nigerian. Tie score : 10-13 in Yoddhas' favour.
22:18 (IST)
Fegerl's backhand is smashed into the net and Quadri has taken it into the Golden point. He has stitche 3-points on the trot.
22:16 (IST)
Fegrel 3-game points up against Quadri. Fegrel has been superb in the second game he needs to finish well.
22:11 (IST)
Aruna has two game point and brilliant receive to Fegrel's serve wins it for the Yoddhas they take a two point lead in the tie at a very crucial juncture of the Tie.
22:10 (IST)
Tough contest this between the two, Fegerl has thrown away his lead it is 8-7 to Quadri's favour.
22:07 (IST)
What a marvelous tournament she is having!!
22:06 (IST)
She wins it after losing two match points. Yoddhas lead 11-10 in the Tie. Super show by Batra she wins the game 11-5 and takes the match 2-1
22:06 (IST)
Match 8: Stefan Fegerl v Aruna Quadri
22:02 (IST)
Batra is 7-match points up. Splendid stuff! Her blocks have been stunning!
21:59 (IST)
Local girl Batra is pushing Winter at this moment, she is dictating terms in this game 3. She leads 8 to 2.
21:56 (IST)
After a couple of game points saved! Winter decided to attack her serve and returns a stunning backhand flick to win the second game.
21:54 (IST)
3 game points for Winter, but Batra has does it before, she can surely do it again.
21:53 (IST)
Winter has taken an early lead but Manika is clawing winning crucial points here. Winter leads 7-5.
21:51 (IST)
We are into the Golden point! Batra has taken the first game. Winter loses to the Indian for the first time in UTT.
21:48 (IST)
Exceptional game 1 by both the players! Batra not giving up until the end. Winter's serve is smoked right into the corner to draw level on 9-aeach.
21:43 (IST)
Match 7: Sabine Winter v Manika Batra
21:43 (IST)
Pucar has comeback against the run of play. It seemed he had dropped his guard in the first two games, but the Croatian has clawed her way back. Super comeback, Kamal is clearly disappointed. Tie score is back in the balance 9-9.
21:38 (IST)
Kamal had 8-game points to play with and he drops just a single point to win the 2nd game (11-3)
21:36 (IST)
Highlights from the best match of the day
21:36 (IST)
Kamal is racing away with the 2nd game here. He is leading 2-9.
21:33 (IST)
Sharath Kamal leads 5 to 1 against Pucar. Both the players have lost their matches so far, albeit Kamal lost the match in mixed doubles.
21:31 (IST)
Match 6: Sharath Kamal v Tomislav Pucar
21:29 (IST)
Doo Hoi Kem has been swift and her smash have come out perfectly. Another dominating performance by the Hong Kong paddler. She has given her Team the lead in the Tie as she takes all-3 points. Tie score tilts in Yoddhas' favour (8-7) but still there are 12 points to play for.
21:24 (IST)
As an when Polcanova wins a couple of points, Doo finds a way to halt her and she then goes on to take the advantage. Doo Hoi Kem wins the 2nd game (11-7) as well. She looks for another clean sweep.
21:18 (IST)
But, she has won the final two points to take the game. She yells after winning the first game, as she always does. Tie score: Yoddhas trail 7-6
21:18 (IST)
Some positive strokes from Polcanova and Doo has faltered a couple of times, giving Polcanova to come back in the game. Doo leads 9-8.
21:15 (IST)
Polcanova started things well, but Doo Hoi Kem have comeback to take the lead 7-5.
21:14 (IST)
This is how Doo Hoi Kem outplayed Archana Kamath in Match 2, can she do it against Polcanova
21:13 (IST)
Match 5: Sofia Polcanova v Doo Hoi Kem
21:09 (IST)
And there it is! Pucar hits it long and out to lose the game 11-5. Apolonia completes his second clean sweep of the day. 6/6 for the Portugese! Tie score: Mavericks 7 -5 Yoddhas
21:07 (IST)
Some good rallies and counters in the game, but Apolonia is holding his own, looking for his 2nd clean sweep of the day. Yoddhas' need to get back into the Tie as soon as they can. Both teams are placed in the bottom of the overall points table.
21:04 (IST)
Pucar does well to get a couple of points and mount pressure on Apolonia, but he holds on. Mavericks take another point and now they are leading 6 to Yoddhas' 5.
21:02 (IST)
Apolonia has made his way back into the game with some firm push and drives, he takes the lead with 3-match points.
21:00 (IST)
Another a beautiful backhand by the Pucar, gets it across the court and flicks it right into the corner of the table. What a winner! He leads 7-5.