Syndrela scripts stunning Manika upset in Dempo Goa Challengers’ win in Butterfly UTT

Sixteen-year-old Syndrela Das produced one of the biggest upsets in Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Powered by ChatGPT, stunning World No. 52 and Indian stalwart Manika Batra in straight games as two-time champions Dempo Goa Challengers overcame Ahmedabad APL Pipers 8-7 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa on Sunday night.

The teenager’s statement victory proved pivotal as Goa survived a spirited Ahmedabad fightback to register their second successive win of Season 7.

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The Ahmedabad APL Pipers versus Dempo Goa Challengers match-up served bagels all around, with four of the five matches finishing 3-0 in the victors’ favour.

Abhinandh PB of Dempo Goa Challengers in action against Payas Jain of Ahmedabad APL Pipers at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa on Sunday night. Pics: Butterfly UTT.

Goa laid the perfect platform through Spain’s Alvaro Robles, who brushed aside Adrien Rassenfosse in straight games before Syndrela delivered the performance of the evening. Showing remarkable composure beyond her years, the 16-year-old edged three fiercely contested games against Manika, blanking the Indian star to hand the defending champions a commanding 6-0 advantage after two matches.

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Ahmedabad refused to go away, with Payas Jain and Sofia Polcanova sweeping the mixed doubles before Payas claimed the final game against Abhinandh PB after the Goa youngster had already secured the match and, with it, the tie.

Sofia Polcanova of Ahmedabad APL Pipers 

The closing contest then produced a high-class meeting between international doubles partners Polcanova and reigning MVP Bernadette Szocs, with the Austrian prevailing in straight games. Goa’s early dominance ultimately proved enough to seal an 8-7 victory.

Syndrela picked up the ChatGPT Match IQ Player of the Tie and the Indian Player of the Tie awards for her statement win, while Robles was awarded the Bisleri Shot of the Tie. Polcanova was named the Foreign Player of the Tie.

Result: Dempo Goa Challengers beat Ahmedabad APL Pipers 8-7

Alvaro Robles beat Adrien Rassenfosse 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-2); Syndrela Das beat Manika Batra 3-0 (11-10, 11-9, 11-9); Abhinandh P B / Bernadette Szocs lost to Payas Jain / Sofia Polcanova 3-0 (7-11, 5-11, 10-11); Abhinandh P B beat Payas Jain 2-1 (11-8, 11-10, 5-11); Bernadette Szocs lost to Sofia Polcanova 3-0 (8-11, 6-11, 8-11).