Smashers outclass Falcons in final
Manika and Sathiyan’s performances helped the Smashers topple defending champions Falcons TTC and pocket a ` 1 crore prize money
Golden girl Manika Batra and G. Sathiyan guided Dabang Smashers to the 2018 Ceat Ultimate Table Tennis title with a 11- 7 win over Falcons TTC in the final in Kolkata on Sunday night.
Manika and Sathiyan’s powerpacked performances helped the Smashers topple defending champions Falcons TTC and also pocket a whopping ` 1 crore prize money in front of a full house.
Riding on a brilliant start that saw the Smashers jump to a solid 7- 2 lead after just three matches, captain Sathiyan recorded a thumping 2- 1 victory over Alvaro Robles to bring the contest to a premature end.
Sathiyan won the first set handsomely and led 5- 0 in the second. But Spain’s Robles pulled back to draw level and make it 1- 1. World no. 44 Sathiyan, however, had the last laugh, winning the third and the crucial 11th game point to seal the victory for the Smashers.
Earlier, 23- year- old Manika led the charge, downing world no. 30 Matilda Ekholm 3- 0 ( 11- 8, 11- 10, 11- 9). The 2018 Commonwealth Games double gold medallist dominated her Swedish opponent, claiming points with a series of blistering smashes.
Manika picked up the Indian player of the league award for her outstanding performance through the season. She won five matches and lost two.
World no. 27 Yoshida Masaki extended the Smashers lead with a 2- 1 victory over Sanil Shetty. Masaki exhibited great technique and control to claim the first two sets 11- 8, 11- 8. But Shetty went for broke and claimed the last set to corner a vital point.
Sathiyan and Sakura Mori then paired up to pick up two more game points, getting the better of Shetty and Bernadette Szocs in the mixed doubles.
Falcons’ captain and last year’s MVP Liam Pitchford brought his side back to life, beating Belgium’s Cedric Nuytinck 2- 1 in an exhilarating contest. He, however, yielded a vital point, losing the second set 5- 11 which proved critical in the end.
Romania’s Szocs, who has been winning matches for the Falcons, then overcame young Adriana Diaz to narrow the lead. But the 17- year- old Puerto Rican also pulled one point in the third set to set the stage for Sathiyan.