Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) have annouced that Season 6 will see a new franchise added to the team roster in Kolkata ThunderBlades.
UTT will however remain an eight-team league as the Punit Balan Group, which till last year ran PBG Bengaluru Smashers, is shifting base to PBG's "home turf" Pune in a "bold new avatar" as PBG Pune Jaguars.
Meanwhile, Puneri Paltan Table Tennis, the UTT team owned by Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd., a company promoted by the Kotak family, has been disbanded.
Which means that the latest season will again see eight teams battling it out for the title in Ahmedabad – a first-time venue – from May 29 to June 15. It bears noting that the city already has a UTT team - Ahmedabad SG Pipers.
Co-owned by the Uneecops Group and MVikas Group, Kolkata ThunderBlades are set to make a splash in UTT Season 6. The franchise enters the latest season with a deep-rooted understanding of table tennis, with co-owners Ketan Jain and Rajat Kumar former national-level players who have gained firsthand experience with the game. Meanwhile, renowned coach Anshul Garg returns in a fresh, new role of team director, having skillfully overseen competitive teams in UTT in Seasons 4 and 5.
“We are excited and delighted to be part of Ultimate Table Tennis. The league has set new benchmarks for table tennis and helped table tennis grow manifolds in India. Kolkata has a strong sporting culture, with amazing fanbases across every sport and we look forward to building a competitive table tennis team that they can rally behind. We are eager to get stuck in and hope to hit the ground running in Season 6,” said Jain.
With the arrival of Kolkata ThunderBlades, UTT continues to expand its presence across India, Season 6, adding to the league’s growing footprint. With each edition, UTT has provided Indian and international paddlers a platform to compete at the highest level, breeding intense rivalries and thrilling action. The upcoming season in Ahmedabad continues this momentum, bringing the sport to new and established audiences, where alongside Kolkata ThunderBlades, PBG Pune Jaguars will take the court in a new avatar as part of UTT’s evolving landscape.
UTT co-promoters Vita Dani and Niraj Bajaj, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kolkata ThunderBlades to Ultimate Table Tennis. We are certain they will add a unique colour to the UTT tapestry. Each season, UTT has grown in stature, bringing together top Indian and international talent in a fiercely competitive environment. With a new team and a first-time venue in Ahmedabad, Season 6 will build on that promise and deliver high-quality table tennis and thrilling action for players and fans alike.”
Starting May 29, the teams will compete in the league stage, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. With a mix of established franchises and fresh dynamics, Season 6 promises another thrilling chapter in India’s premier table tennis league.
UTT teams
Ahmedabad SG Pipers, Chennai Lions, Dabang Delhi TTC, Goa Challengers, Jaipur Patriots, Kolkata ThunderBlades, PBG Pune Jaguars, U Mumba TT.
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