UTT | Ahmedabad Pipers serves it hot against Jaipur Patriots, enters knockouts

Ahmedabad SG Pipers secure knockout spot with record-breaking 12-3 victory over Jaipur Patriots in Ultimate Table Tennis.

In a franchise league as fiercely competitive as Ultimate Table Tennis, the ideal scenario is to have fate in your own hands going into the last tie.

Facing a similar situation, Ahmedabad SG Pipers responded positively in its clash against another debutant, Jaipur Patriots. The 12-3 victory not only matched the record margin (Chennai Lions against Puneri Paltan TT), but also assured the team a spot in the knockouts.

Ahmedabad’s facile victory at the Nehru Stadium on Wednesday also meant that Lions’ late charge a night earlier wasn’t enough to take it through.

In fact, the moment Bernadette Szocs and Manush Shah combined to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the mixed doubles tie against Cho Seungmin and Nithyashree Mani, the last semifinal slot was sealed and the Ahmedabad camp had a mini-celebration.

Thanks to the Lions’ unprecedented 12-3 win in their penultimate league clash, Pipers had to win seven games against Patriots.

It was going to be a mere formality as the Jaipur outfit was far from competitive, reeling under a spate of injuries and mediocre performances.

Once Lilian Bardet stunned southpaw Cho in the opening rubber, Szocs — the league’s highest-ranked (World No. 13) paddler — followed it up with a clean slate against Suthasini Sawettabut.