Butterfly UTT Season 7 Set to Begin in Goa with Dempo Goa Challengers Taking on Defending Champions U Mumba TT

Butterfly UTT Season 7 Ready for Grand Kick-off in Goa

The seventh season of Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) will begin on Thursday, July 9, with hosts Dempo Goa Challengers taking on defending champions U Mumba TT in a blockbuster Western Derby at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa.

Seven franchises will battle over the next 18 days for the coveted title, with the final scheduled for July 26. The league will once again feature a blend of world-class international stars and India's leading table tennis players.

Dempo Goa Challengers Eye Winning Start

Hosts Dempo Goa Challengers will be led by reigning UTT MVP Bernadette Szocs, one of the league's most consistent performers. After helping U Mumba TT lift the title last season, Szocs joined the Goa franchise during this year's player auction.

"I am always happy to return to UTT every year. The league keeps growing with every season and continues to get better. Winning the title last season was an incredible feeling that is difficult to describe. I'm excited to be back and be a part of this league once again," said Bernadette Szocs.

UTT Provides Ideal Preparation Ahead of Asian Games

The seventh edition assumes added importance for Indian players as it concludes just days before the national team departs for the Asian Games in Japan. The tournament offers valuable high-intensity match practice against world-class opponents ahead of one of the biggest events on the international calendar.

"Every season of Butterfly UTT teaches me something new. The league brings a different kind of pressure, especially when matches are decided by the final few points. It has helped me develop immensely as a player and is excellent preparation ahead of the Asian Games," said PBG Pune Jaguars star Diya Chitale.

Top Indian Stars Ready for New Season

World No. 3 men's doubles player Manush Shah joins defending champions U Mumba TT as they look to retain their title.

"Joining a wonderful franchise like U Mumba TT is very special. Playing alongside and against familiar teammates always creates healthy competition. I am looking forward to a great season and hope we can successfully defend our title," said Shah.

One of the season's most anticipated contests could see Shah face his regular men's doubles partner Manav Thakkar, who will represent UP Prometheans this year.

"Manush and I have been performing well together and are currently ranked World No. 3 in men's doubles. Playing against him will certainly be challenging. With the Asian Games coming up, this league will help us build momentum and hopefully prepare us to win a medal for India," said Thakkar.

League Continues to Nurture Young Talent

Butterfly UTT will once again conduct the Dream UTT Juniors initiative alongside the main tournament to strengthen the development pathway for young Indian players.

Fifteen-year-old Divyanshi Bhowmick, last season's Girls' MVP, has become the youngest player in Butterfly UTT history after being drafted by Dabang Delhi TTC.

"I am extremely happy to be selected for UTT and to be part of a team alongside so many senior players. Training with them over the last two days has been a wonderful learning experience," said Divyanshi.

Austrian Olympian Sofia Polcanova also returns to the league for the first time since Season 2, representing Ahmedabad APL Pipers.

"I followed the league closely on Instagram last season and watched Bernadette and her team win the title. The league has grown tremendously over the years, and I am delighted to be back. Everyone here has been extremely welcoming," said Polcanova.

AI-Based Table Tennis Review System Introduced

Season 7 will also introduce an AI-powered Table Tennis Review (TTR) system, making Butterfly UTT one of the few leagues globally to implement video review technology.

Developed by Gurugram-based Stupa Sports, the league's official technology partner, the system will verify disputed decisions in under 20 seconds. Each team will receive three TTR reviews per match.

"The introduction of the TTR system will be exciting for fans. Every team will have three reviews during a match, and I am looking forward to seeing how the technology works in live competition," said HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades player Jeet Chandra.

Competition Format and Broadcast Details

Seven teams will compete in a single round-robin league format, with each team playing every other franchise once. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the knockout rounds.

All matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports Khel (Hindi), Star Sports Tamil 2 HD and Star Sports Tamil 3 HD, while live streaming will be available in Hindi, Tamil and English on JioHotstar.

About Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis

Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis is India's premier professional table tennis league, organised under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani. The league continues to strengthen Indian table tennis through elite competition and year-round player development initiatives.

(Inputs from Press Release)