Goa Challengers' owners during the UTT Coach Draft in Mumbai.
Photo Credits: The Goan
PANAJI
Goa Challengers has brought on board five-time Olympian Elena Timina and Parag Agrawal as the franchise's coaches for the upcoming edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), scheduled from July 13 to 30.
The league's Coach Draft was held in Mumbai as the six franchises picked their coaches -- a combination of one Indian and one foreign coach from the talent available in the pool.
Vivek Bhargava, the Goa Challengers’ owner, felt the season started well for them with their picks at the coach’s draft. “The draft was wonderful for us. We got our two top coaches,” Bhargava said.
The UTT Season 4 Coach Draft was attended by UTT co-promoters Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani along with team owners who made their first strategic move for the season by choosing the coaches. The draft began by determining the sequence or order for selection with each team picking up the numbered ball (1-6) from a pouch for Round 1. The order would be reversed for Round 2.
Having their coaches in line, the teams can begin their preparations for the UTT Season 4 Player Draft to be held early next month. The franchise-based league is promoted by Bajaj and Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India. The upcoming season of the league will be played at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.
