PANAJI
Dempo Goa Challengers became the first team in the competition’s history to remain unbeaten through the league phase after defeating UP Prometheans 10-5 in UTT Season 7 on Wednesday.
The victory capped a remarkable league campaign for the two-time champions, who defeated all six of their opponents to finish atop the standings heading into the semifinals.
Alvaro Robles and Bernadette Szocs starred once again as Goa built an early advantage before Abhinandh PB and Szocs combined to clinch the mixed doubles and seal the tie. While UP fought back through Manav Thakkar and Yangzi Liu in the closing matches, Goa's commanding start ensured they created history as the competition's first unbeaten league-stage side.
Goa made the perfect start as Robles swept aside Sudhanshu Grover in straight games before Szocs overcame a spirited fightback from Sayali Wani to double the advantage. The reigning champions then took complete control in the mixed doubles, with Szocs and Abhinandh edging Ricardo Walther and Swastika Ghosh in three tight games to secure the tie and maintain Goa's unbeaten record.
UP finished the evening with two morale-boosting victories. Manav Thakkar handed Abhinandh a second successive singles defeat after the youngster had gone unbeaten for much of the campaign, while former two-time MVP Liu recovered from dropping the opening game to beat teenage star Syndrela Das. Despite the late resistance, Goa comfortably completed a historic unbeaten league phase.
SCORES
Dempo Goa Challengers 10 beat UP Prometheans 5 -- Alvaro Robles bt Sudhanshu Grover 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4), Bernadette Szocs bt Sayali Wani 2-1 (11-3, 9-11, 11-9), Abhinandh PB/Bernadette Szocs bt Ricardo Walther/Swastika Ghosh 3-0 (11-9, 11-10, 11-9), Abhinandh PB lost to Manav Thakkar 1-2 (8-11, 7-11, 11-8), Syndrela Das lost to Yangzi Liu 1-2 (11-10, 7-11, 6-11)
