Snehit SFR and Prithika Pavade help Pune Jaguars post 9-6 win over UP Prometheans

Snehit SFR and French Olympian and Butterfly UTT debutant Prithika Pavade produced a powerhouse performance as PBG Pune Jaguars defeated UP Prometheans 9-6 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa on Sunday, securing their first victory of Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7.

Pavade capped a memorable outing by toppling two-time Butterfly UTT MVP Yangzi Liu in the deciding women’s singles, recovering from a game down before producing a superb display in the decider to seal one of the standout wins of the season so far.

Ricardo Walther of UP Prometheans in action against Omar Assar of PBG Pune Jaguars during their Butterfly UTT Season 7 tie at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa on Sunday. Pics: Butterfly UTT

UP made the brighter start through Germany’s Ricardo Walther, who overcame Egypt’s Omar Assar in three games with an assured display. Pune responded immediately as Diya Chitale fought back from a game down to edge Sayali Wani in another closely contested battle, before the Jaguars seized control through Snehit SFR and Pavade, who held their nerve to win a pair of dramatic mixed doubles Golden Points.

Diya Chitale in action against Sayali Wani

Snehit maintains unbeaten start

Snehit then maintained his unbeaten start to the season by edging Sudhanshu Grover in another three-game contest, handing Pune a crucial cushion heading into the final match. With the tie still alive, Pavade delivered the performance of the afternoon, bouncing back after dropping the opening game against Liu to take control of the contest and close out a memorable victory over one of the league’s most decorated players, sealing Pune’s first win of Season 7.

Prithika Pavade serves in her game against Yangzi Liu

Pavade was named the Foreign Player of the Tie, while Snehit collected the Indian Player of the Tie, as well as the ChatGPT Match IQ Player of the Tie awards. Omar Assar’s scintillating winner in the third game of his singles rubber earned him the Bisleri Shot of the Tie honour.

Sutirtha seals dramatic Dabang Delhi victory over Kolkata after Ankur stuns Sathiyan

Earlier in the day, Dream UTT Juniors, Butterfly UTT’s grassroots competition running alongside Season 7, saw Dabang Delhi TTC defeat Ahmedabad APL Pipers 6-3, while U Mumba TT maintained their perfect start with a 5-4 victory over HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades.

Later in the evening, Ahmedabad APL Pipers will take on Dempo Goa Challengers.

Snehit SFR in action against Sudhanshu Grover

Staged under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, Butterfly UTT Season 7 features 42 players from around the world, including 14 Olympians, while continuing to strengthen the Indian table tennis ecosystem through elite competition and year-round development initiatives.

Result: PBG Pune Jaguars beat UP Prometheans 9-6

Omar Assar lost to Ricardo Walther 1-2 (4-11, 10-11, 11-9); Diya Chitale beat Sayali Wani 2-1 (9-11, 11-8, 11-10); Snehit SFR / Prithika Pavade beat Ricardo Walther / Swastika Ghosh 2-1 (8-11, 11-10, 11-10); Snehit SFR beat Sudhanshu Grover 2-1 (11-7, 3-11, 11-9); Prithika Pavade beat Yangzi Liu 2-1 (4-11, 11-7, 11-9).