UTT: Han Ying propels Shaze Challengers to 16-11 win over Falcons TTC

Experienced Han Ying recorded two crucial wins late in the tie to help Shaze Challengers beat table-toppers Falcons TTC 16-11 on Day nine of the inaugural Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) at the Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi last evening.

World No. 42 Li Ping put Shaze Challengers ahead with a 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-5) win over Maharashtra southpaw Sanil Shetty (Falcons TTC) in the men's singles (Foreign v Indian), the day's opening match.

China-born Qatar international Li Ping was in control as he quelled a late challenge from Shetty, ranked 201 in the world, in the opening two games and wrapped up the final game with ease to hand his side full three points.

However, in-form Chinese world No. 13 Wu Yang levelled points for table-toppers Falcons TTC as she brushed aside Mouma Das 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-7) in the women's singles (Foreign v Indian).

India's Soumyajit Ghosh and his German partner Petrissa Solja got the better of India's Sanil Shetty and Hong Kong's Lee Ho Ching 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-10) in the mixed doubles to put Shaze Challengers back in the lead at 6-3 against Falcons TTC .

Li Ping (Shaze Challengers) retired hurt in the second game of his men's singles against Par Gerell that saw as Falcons TTC levelled it at 6-6 after four games.

However, German world No. 24 Petrissa Solja won her second match today, a come-from-behind 2-1 (10-11, 11-8, 11-5) win over Hong Kong world No 36 Lee Ho Ching (Falcons TTC) in the women's singles (Foreign player category) to put Shaze Challengers ahead 8-7.

British world No. 59 Liam Pitchford levelled scores at 9-all for Falcons TTC with a 2-1 (6-11, 11-9, 11-3) win over Indian Soumyajit Ghosh in the men's singles.

Subsequently, China-born Germany international world No. 9 Han Ying thumped Falcons TTC's Priyadarshini Das 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-4) in the women's singles to hand Shaze Challengers a 12-9 lead with two more matches remaining in the tie.

Pitchford record his second win of the day, a 2-1 (11-7, 11-6, 6-11) verdict over Croatian world No. 46 Andrej Gacina (Shaze Challengers) in the men's singles.

However, in a high-profile women's singles category, 34-year-old Han Ying edged out in-form Chinese world No. 13 Wu Yang 3-0 (11-10, 11-10, 11-10) in a match that went to golden point in every game.