The Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) 2024 witnessed a surge in excitement on August 25th as the Chennai Lions, led by veteran star Sharath Kamal, faced Dabang Delhi TTC. After a disappointing start to the tournament with sparsely attended matches, the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium came alive with fans of all ages, eager to cheer on their home team. The Lions, looking to bounce back from a previous loss, responded with a resounding 8-7 victory, fueled by the energy from the stands.
Sharath, the team captain, highlighted the importance of fan support, especially for younger players participating in the tournament. He expressed his disappointment over the initial lack of spectators, noting the passion for sports in Chennai. The packed stands, however, provided the much-needed energy, with Sharath himself delivering a crucial 2-1 win against Andreas Levenko of Austria. The win in the mixed doubles match, where Sharath partnered with Japan’s Sakura Mori, further energized the crowd. As a gesture of gratitude, Sharath distributed jerseys to the fans following the match.
The UTT, with its affordable ticket prices and close-up viewing opportunities, has all the ingredients to attract a large and passionate fan base. Fans can interact with players and enjoy additional perks depending on their seating location. Sharath believes the substantial turnout could be a positive sign for the future of table tennis in India. He commented, “Last edition saw a good crowd. Now that we’ve shown the fans what we can do, I think it will pick up.” The Lions will next face U-Mumba, a team boasting stars like Quadri Aruna, Manav Thakkar, and Sutirtha Mukherjee. The team hopes to continue their winning momentum with the support of their home crowd.
