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Captain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran delivered a decisive double — winning both the mixed doubles alongside Maria Xiao and the men’s singles against Payas Jain — as Dabang Delhi TTC defeated Ahmedabad APL Pipers 9-6 in UTT Season 7 on Monday, securing their third win of the campaign despite Manika Batra’s fighting singles victory for Ahmedabad.
Panaji, Goa: Manika Batra is the biggest name at Ahmedabad APL Pipers this season, and the India No. 1 has brought plenty of entertainment to UTT Season 7. But even on an evening when she rounded off proceedings with a composed two-games-to-one win over Sutirtha Mukherjee, the iconic paddler could only watch as her side fell short for the fourth time in the campaign. It was Dabang Delhi’s night, and more precisely, it was Sathiyan Gnanasekaran’s.
Dabang Delhi arrived in Goa carrying the scars of a 12-3 hammering at the hands of Dempo Goa Challengers just three days earlier — the joint-heaviest defeat in the five-match format’s history. Monday’s tie was their chance to regroup, and Sathiyan made sure there was no repeat.
Youssef Opens the Door
Delhi drew first blood through Youssef Abdelaziz, who edged a tense men’s singles duel against Adrien Rassenfosse 2-1 (11-6, 5-11, 11-10), losing the first game before bouncing back in the second and then eventually prevailing 11-10 in the decider in the opening rubber.
The women’s singles then went the way of the Pipers. Sofia Polcanova, the Austrian world-class paddler who has been one of the standout performers of Season 7, defeated Maria Xiao 2-1 — claiming the Foreign Player of the Tie award in the process — to level the contest and ensure the tie remained finely poised heading into the pivotal mixed doubles.
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Sathiyan Takes Control
With the tie on a knife’s edge, the captain stepped up. Sathiyan paired with Maria Xiao to face the Ahmedabad combination of Payas Jain and Sofia Polcanova in the mixed doubles — and Delhi delivered a composed 11-7, 9-11, 11-4 win to swing the momentum decisively in their favour.
What followed was a statement. Having historically found Payas Jain a difficult opponent, Sathiyan walked out for the men’s singles and produced a commanding straight-games victory, brooking no contest to put Delhi firmly in control. It was the kind of performance the franchise had been looking for from their captain after the Goa setback, and Sathiyan delivered when it mattered most.
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Manika’s Consolation Can’t Rescue Pipers
With Delhi’s ninth point already secured and the tie beyond Ahmedabad’s reach, Manika Batra had the final word of the evening in the women’s singles. The Ahmedabad skipper eased to a 11-5, 11-3, and 9-11 win over Sutirtha Mukherjee —winning the first two games comfortably — before losing the third. It was the kind of dogged resilience that has made Manika a fan favourite across her illustrious career, but the three points were scant comfort on a night where her side could not match Delhi’s top-order depth.
Sathiyan was named both the Match IQ Player and Indian Player of the Tie for his double contribution, while Polcanova took the Foreign Player of the Tie honour and the Bisleri Shot of the Tie award despite being on the losing side.
Delhi Tighten Playoff Grip
The 9-6 win is Dabang Delhi’s third of the campaign and strengthens their case for a top-four finish in the single round-robin league phase, with the top four advancing to the knockout stage. For Ahmedabad, it is a fourth defeat in the season, leaving Manika and company facing a challenging final stretch if they are to salvage a playoff berth.
Result: Dabang Delhi TTC 9-6 Ahmedabad APL Pipers
Match IQ Player of the Tie: Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (Dabang Delhi TTC)
Indian Player of the Tie: Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (Dabang Delhi TTC)
Foreign Player of the Tie: Sofia Polcanova (Ahmedabad APL Pipers)
Full Scorecard:
Youssef Abdelaziz bt. Adrien Rassenfosse 2-1 (11-6, 5-11, 11-10)
Maria Xiao lost to Sofia Polcanova 1-2 (2-11, 11-9, 10-11)
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran/Maria Xiao bt. Payas Jain/Sofia Polcanova 2-1 (11-7, 9-11, 11-4)
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran bt. Payas Jain 3-0
Sutirtha Mukherjee lost to Manika Batra 1-2 (5-11, 3-11, 11-9)
