UTT 2019 | U Mumba rout Goa Challengers 11-4, courtesy Manav Thakkar and Doo Hoi Kem

UTT 2019 | U Mumba rout Goa Challengers 11-4, courtesy Manav Thakkar and Doo Hoi Kem

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Manav Thakkar and Doo Hoi Kem starred, winning both their singles matches and the mixed doubles clash, as U Mumba routed the Goa Challengers 11-4 in the 2019 edition of Ultimate Table Tennis. Meanwhile, Kirill Gerassimenko caught the public eye with his artistry, despite losing his match.

In his singles clash against Goa’s Anthony Amalraj. Manav was quick off the block to take the 5-1 lead in the first game. It seemed like Anthony, who is known to be one of the fastest players in the tournament, was being rushed on his returns on several occasions. Manav took the first game 11-7, and he put his form down to Doo winning the first match in the tie. 

“After Doo won the first match 3-0, there was no pressure on me and I just went for my shots. I knew that there isn’t much wiggle room against Anthony because he’s so fast so I just hit hard at the first opportunity which came my way,” Manav said in the post-match presser, reported Firstpost.

Although Anthony fought back to claim the second game 11-5, Manav found his mojo once again the third game. He won it 11-9, to give U Mumba a 5-1 lead in the overall tie.

Next, the 19-year-old combined with the world no.12 Doo for their mixed doubles clash against the pair of Alvaro Robles and Archana Kamath. With a 3-0 win, the match was over in a jiffy, as U Mumba took an unassailable 8-1 lead. 

Then, the Kazakhstan-born Kirill stepped up and put on a dazzling display of flair and cheek. With his team having already pocketed the tie, the 22-year-old experimented with his serves and pulled out trick shots, one after another. If it was Manav’s seemingly invincible game that got the crowd going earlier, Kirill's artistry was painting the crowd in the U Mumba orange late on. 

However, in the end, his opponent Alvaro prevailed 2-1, providing some consolation in an otherwise abject 4-11 surrender of his team. Table-toppers U Mumba also confirmed their semi-final spot with this win.

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