Panaji, Goa: Goa is once again ready to take centre stage in Indian sport as it prepares to host Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7, powered by ChatGPT, from July 9 to July 26, 2026, at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium.
Having successfully hosted India’s first-ever WTT event in 2023, Goa continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the country’s premier sporting destinations by welcoming another marquee international table tennis competition.
Over an exciting 18-day tournament, seven franchises featuring India’s top paddlers and some of the world’s finest table tennis stars will battle for the coveted Butterfly UTT trophy.
Dempo Goa Challengers Target Third Championship
Representing the home crowd, Dempo Goa Challengers enter the tournament as the league’s only two-time champions, having lifted the title in 2023 and 2024. The franchise now hopes to create history by securing an unprecedented third championship.
The squad blends India’s brightest young talents with experienced international stars.
The Indian contingent includes:
- Syndrela Das – World No. 1 (U-17 Girls’ Doubles)
- P.B. Abhinandh – WTT Youth Contender Doha 2026 U-19 Mixed Doubles Champion
- Divyansh Srivastava
- Ananya Chande – Triple Gold Medallist at the 2025 Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships
International Stars Add Firepower
Leading the overseas lineup is Romanian star Bernadette Szocs, the highest-valued player at the Season 7 auction, alongside Spain’s two-time Olympian Alvaro Robles.
Szocs returns for her fifth UTT season after playing a key role in U Mumba TT’s title-winning campaign last year.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Szocs said:
“I’m excited to represent Dempo Goa Challengers for the first time this season. The franchise has built an incredible legacy in Butterfly UTT, and it’s a privilege to be part of that journey. The goal is to help the team win a third title.”
Star-Studded Competition
Season 7 will feature several top Indian and international players including:
- Manika Batra
- Manav Thakkar
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran
- Omar Assar
- Anna Hursey
- Bernadette Szocs
The seven participating teams are:
- Dempo Goa Challengers
- U Mumba TT
- Dabang Delhi T.T.C.
- PBG Pune Jaguars
- HVR Kolkata ThunderBlades
- Ahmedabad APL Pipers
- UP Prometheans
Each team will face every other franchise once in the league stage before the top four qualify for the semifinals.
Prize Money
- 🏆 Champions – ₹60 lakh
- 🥈 Runners-up – ₹40 lakh
- 🥉 Losing Semi-finalists – ₹17.5 lakh each
The tournament will be broadcast live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network, promising thrilling table tennis action for fans across India.
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