Falcons clinch semis dry run
Defending champions Falcons TTC beat RP- SG Mavericks 11- 10 in their last league match, setting up a semi- final clash against the same opponent in Ultimate Table Tennis.
In the other semi- final, table toppers Dabang Smashers ( 63 points) take on fourth- placed Maharashtra United ( 49 points).
Falcons ( 56 points) finished the group stage third while RP- SG Mavericks ( 58 points) were second.
Falcons, who needed just three points to overtake Warriors TTC in the points table, achieved the feat in the third match against the Mavericks.
Sanil Shetty paired up with Bernadette Szocs to overcome Harmeet Desai and Doo Hoi Kem 11- 7, 111, 5- 11 in the mixed doubles.
Germany’s Sabine Winter began proceedings on a winning note for the Mavericks, taming national champion Sutirtha Mukherjee 1110, 11- 2, 11- 5.
Spain’s Alvaro Robles, however, notched up a win for the Falcons in the next match, the world no. 56 beating Harmeet Desai 11- 8, 9- 11, 11- 8.
England’s Liam Pitchford, world no. 49, maintained his unbeaten run in the second edition of the tournament, fighting back from a set down to defeat world no. 20 Sweden’s Mattias Karlsson 6- 11, 11- 8, 11- 9.
Hong’s Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem then regained the initiative for the Mavericks, outscoring Szocs in 11- 8, 7- 11, 11- 8.
Mavericks’ Kou Lei of Ukraine overcame Sanil Shetty 11- 4, 6- 11, 11- 10, helping his team take the second spot on the table.
Mouma Das lost the tie’s last clash to Matilda Ekholm 11- 7, 11- 8, 11- 7, handing the Falcons a psychological edge going into the semi- finals.