UTT: Freitas, Kim Song I star in Dabang Smashers's win over Maharashtra United

New Delhi [India], July 23 (ANI): Marcos Freitas and Kim Song I recorded two wins each to lead Dabang Smashers T.T.C. to a 16-11 victory over Maharashtra United in the 10th tie of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. G Sathiyan put Smashers ahead with a stunning 2-1 (11-3, 11-9, 7-11) win over Hong Kong world No. 8 Wong Chun Ting in the men's singles (Foreign v Indian), the day's opening match. Sathiyan ran away with the opening game and then rallied back to clinch the second. Wong Chun Ting, however, came back strongly to win the third and bag a point for his team. North Korea world No 19 Kim Song I extended Smashers' lead to 4-2 with a 2-1 (11-2, 11-5, 9-11) victory over Pooja Koparkar in the women's singles (Foreign v Indian). In-form Kim Song I dominated the Indian world No 279 in the first two games but the Maharashtra lass rallied to win the third game to hand her side a second point. Next up was mixed doubles (Foreign/Indian pair), and Smashers' Anthony Amalraj/ Tetyana Bilenko registered a 2-1 (11-8, 11-4, 4-11) win over Harmeet Desai/ Liu Jia to further their team's lead to 6-3. China-born Ukraine international Kou Lei, ranked No. 28 in the world, pulled off a thrilling 2-1 (11-10, 11-9, 5-11) win over Wong Chun Ting in the men's singles to give Smashers a commanding 8-4 lead over DHFL Maharashtra United after four matches. However, Fu Yu scored a remarkable 3-0 (11-8, 11-10, 11-6) win over Tetyana Bilenko of Smashers in the women's singles to bring Maharashtra United back in contention at 7-8. But Marcos Freitas quelled a spirited challenge by Maharashtra United's Harmeet Desai 2-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-10) to extend Smashers' lead to 10-8. Madhurika Patkar held her nerves when it mattered the most to beat Fu Yu 2-1 (11-9, 7-11, 11-10) in the women's singles to help Smashers move to a 12-9 lead becoming the first Indian in the UTT to beat an international opponent in singles. Freitas pulled off a second win of the day as he beat countryman and southpaw Joao Monteiro of Maharashtra United 2-1 (8-11, 11-10, 11-8) in the men's singles to hand Smashers a winning 14-10 lead. Kim Song I wrapped up the tie for Smashers with a 2-1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-10) win over Liu Jia in the women's singles (Foreign player category). (ANI)