Butterfly UTT Season 7 Fixtures Announced as U Mumba TT Face Dempo Goa Challengers in Opening Clash
The stage is set for another exciting chapter in Indian table tennis as the fixtures for Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 have officially been announced.
The country's premier franchise table tennis competition will begin on July 9 in Goa, with defending champions U Mumba TT taking on two-time winners Dempo Goa Challengers in what promises to be a blockbuster opening encounter.
Hosted at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, the tournament will run from July 9 to July 26 and feature seven franchises battling for the coveted title. Over 17 days of action, fans can expect world-class table tennis, intense rivalries and the opportunity to watch some of India's biggest stars compete alongside leading international players.
The opening match immediately sets the tone for the season. Reigning champions U Mumba TT will face host franchise Dempo Goa Challengers in a high-profile western derby. Both teams have enjoyed considerable success in the league's history and will enter the competition with championship ambitions. For U Mumba TT, the challenge will be defending the title they captured last season. The Mumbai-based franchise has steadily established itself as one of the strongest teams in the competition and will be eager to begin its title defence with a statement victory.
Meanwhile, Dempo Goa Challengers will have the added motivation of playing in front of home fans. As one of the most successful franchises in league history with two titles to their name, Goa will be determined to start the season strongly and mount another championship challenge. The action intensifies immediately after the opener with a double-header scheduled for July 10. Former champions Dabang Delhi TTC will take on UP Prometheans in a northern derby before Kolkata ThunderBlades face PBG Pune Jaguars later in the evening.
Butterfly UTT has grown significantly since its inception and is now regarded as one of India's most successful franchise leagues outside cricket. Organised under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani, the competition has played a crucial role in elevating the profile of table tennis across the country.
The league has consistently provided Indian players with opportunities to compete against elite international talent while also creating a professional platform that attracts some of the world's top paddlers.
Season 7 promises to continue that tradition.
The tournament will feature Ahmedabad APL Pipers, Dabang Delhi TTC, Dempo Goa Challengers, Kolkata ThunderBlades, PBG Pune Jaguars, U Mumba TT and UP Prometheans. Each team will face every other team once during the league phase, with the top four sides progressing to the knockout stage. Among the standout fixtures in the schedule is the Maharashtra derby between U Mumba TT and PBG Pune Jaguars on July 16. Given the sporting rivalry between Mumbai and Pune across multiple disciplines, this encounter is expected to generate significant interest.
Another highly anticipated contest comes on July 17 when Dempo Goa Challengers take on Dabang Delhi TTC. The match serves as a rematch of the 2024 final and could offer an early indication of which team is best positioned for another title challenge.
One of the most intriguing fixtures arrives on July 18 when Ahmedabad APL Pipers face PBG Pune Jaguars. The contest could potentially feature Indian table tennis icon Manika Batra against rising star Diya Chitale.
Manika remains one of the biggest names in Indian table tennis and has played a major role in popularising the sport. Diya, meanwhile, is widely regarded as one of the country's brightest young talents and has already demonstrated her potential on the international stage. A direct clash between the two would be one of the highlights of the league phase.
The same day could also witness another fascinating individual battle when UP Prometheans face U Mumba TT. Close friends and doubles partners Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah may find themselves on opposite sides of the table.
Both players have been instrumental in India's recent success in doubles competitions and are among the country's leading table tennis stars. Their friendship and partnership add an extra layer of intrigue whenever they compete against each other.
From a scheduling perspective, the league has been designed to maximise fan engagement. Six matchdays will feature double-headers, beginning at 5:00 PM IST and followed by a second tie at 7:30 PM IST. Standalone matchdays will begin at 7:30 PM IST.
All matches will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar, ensuring fans across the country can follow every moment of the action.
As Butterfly UTT enters its seventh season, the competition continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the most professionally organised and competitive leagues in Indian sport. With established stars, emerging talent, intense rivalries and championship aspirations on the line, the stage is set for another memorable season.
Butterfly UTT Season 7 Schedule
July 09 – Dempo Goa Challengers vs U Mumba TT (7:30 PM)
July 10
Dabang Delhi TTC vs UP Prometheans (5:00 PM)
Kolkata ThunderBlades vs PBG Pune Jaguars (7:30 PM)
July 11
Dabang Delhi TTC vs Kolkata ThunderBlades (5:00 PM)
Ahmedabad APL Pipers vs U Mumba TT (7:30 PM)
July 12
UP Prometheans vs PBG Pune Jaguars (5:00 PM)
Ahmedabad APL Pipers vs Dempo Goa Challengers (7:30 PM)
July 13 – Dempo Goa Challengers vs Kolkata ThunderBlades (7:30 PM)
July 14 – Ahmedabad APL Pipers vs UP Prometheans (7:30 PM)
July 15 – Dabang Delhi TTC vs U Mumba TT (7:30 PM)
July 16 – U Mumba TT vs PBG Pune Jaguars (7:30 PM)
July 17
Ahmedabad APL Pipers vs Kolkata ThunderBlades (5:00 PM)
Dabang Delhi TTC vs Dempo Goa Challengers (7:30 PM)
July 18
Ahmedabad APL Pipers vs PBG Pune Jaguars (5:00 PM)
UP Prometheans vs U Mumba TT (7:30 PM)
July 19
Dempo Goa Challengers vs PBG Pune Jaguars (5:00 PM)
Kolkata ThunderBlades vs UP Prometheans (7:30 PM)
July 20 – Ahmedabad APL Pipers vs Dabang Delhi TTC (7:30 PM)
July 21 – Kolkata ThunderBlades vs U Mumba TT (7:30 PM)
July 22 – Dempo Goa Challengers vs UP Prometheans (7:30 PM)
July 23 – Dabang Delhi TTC vs PBG Pune Jaguars (7:30 PM)
July 24 – Semi-final 1: 1st Place vs 4th Place (7:30 PM)
July 25 – Semi-final 2: 2nd Place vs 3rd Place (7:30 PM)
July 26 – Final (7:30 PM)
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