UTT: Falcons TTC lead Maharashtra United 7-5 in first semifinal

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 28 (ANI): Falcons TTC lead DHFL Maharashtra United 7-5 after four matches in the ongoing first semifinal of the inaugural Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) at the NSCI in Mumbai on Friday. Five more matches remain in the tie. The team that secure 14 points first is declared winner in the knockouts. Falcons had won the league meeting between the two teams by 17-10. Hong Kong world No. 8 Wong Chun Ting put Maharashtra United ahead with a 2-1 win over southpaw Sanil Shetty in the men's singles (Foreign v Indian), the opening match of the tie. However, Chinese Wu Yang brushed aside Pooja Sahasrabudhe Koparkar (Maharashtra United) 3-0 in the women's singles (Foreign v Indian) for Falcons TTC to move 4-2 ahead on points. Up next was mixed doubles (Foreign/Indian pair) and Maharashtra United's pair of Harmeet Desai and the experienced Fu Yu edged out Sanil Shetty and his partner Lee Ho Ching 2-1 to reduce their margin of deficit to 4-5. Briton Liam Pitchford pulled off an upset win over Wong Chun Ting 2-1 in the men's singles (Foreign player category) to extend Falcons TTC's lead to 7-5. After four matches - Falcons TTC lead DHFL Maharashtra United 7-5 MS - Sanil Shetty lost to Wong Chun Ting 1-2 (8-11, 11-5, 3-11) WS - Wu Yang beat Pooja Sahasrabudhe Koparkar 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-2) MD - Sanil Shetty/ Lee Ho Ching lost to Harmeet Desai/ Fu Yu 1-2 (6-11, 11-5, 5-11), MS - Liam Pitchford beat Wong Chun Ting 2-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-4) (ANI)