Dabang Delhi TTC made a dramatic entrance into the final of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) tournament, securing an 8-6 victory over the debutant Ahmedabad SG Pipers. The key to Delhi’s success lay in the exceptional performance of 26-year-old Orawan Paranang, who shone brightly amidst the competition.
Paranang, who had a fluctuating season with three wins and two losses, faced a daunting task against the Pipers’ captain, Bernadette Szocs, the highest-ranked player in this UTT edition. With her teammate Sathiyan Gnanasekaran managing to secure just one game in the first match, the pressure was immense on Paranang. However, she rose to the challenge, delivering a demoralizing clean-sweep against Szocs, showcasing her exceptional skills and tactical brilliance. The southpaw’s varied play, incorporating top-spin and deceptive techniques, proved too much for her opponent.
Reflecting on her victory, Paranang attributed her success to the unwavering support of her team: “I didn’t feel any pressure ahead of the game, and that’s thanks to my team. They motivated me and asked me to just enjoy my game and not think about anything else. I think I played well.”
Throughout the match, Paranang maintained an unwavering composure, displaying a positive attitude that she believes is key to her performance in high-pressure situations. “The reason I always carry a smile on my face is that I cannot focus properly on my game when I’m nervous. My coach said, ‘Smile, don’t worry about the points lost, and give your best.’ And when I do that, I somehow feel energised and things go my way,” she explained.
While Paranang’s individual triumph was a highlight, the mixed doubles match saw her and Sathiyan fall short against the undefeated duo of Szocs and Manush Shah, losing 0-3. However, Andreas Levenko’s crucial 2-1 victory over Manush in the men’s singles brought the overall score to a nail-biting 6-6, setting the stage for the decisive match.
Diya Chitale stepped up to the challenge, displaying unwavering confidence as she secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Reeth Rishya, securing Delhi’s place in the final. Paranang praised Chitale’s performance, stating, “I think Diya gave her 120 per cent; she oozes confidence. Even when we were trailing 5-6, she had confidence that Andreas (Levenko) would take another game and restore the overall tally. He eventually did, and that gave a much-needed boost for Diya to play the way she did.”
The final will see Delhi face the defending champion Goa Challengers, a team they have already defeated in the league stage with a score of 9-6. Paranang was instrumental in that victory, defeating Yangzi Liu and handing her the first loss of the UTT season.
The confidence gained from the league stage victory, coupled with their recent triumph over the Pipers, has boosted Delhi’s morale ahead of the final. “We played against Goa in the league stage already. They are a strong team, but we beat them. And after the win against the Pipers, we have gained a lot more confidence to face them again,” Paranang concluded, expressing optimism for their upcoming clash.
