Harmeet looks to extend good run in UTT

Talented paddler Harmeet Desai is coming into the third season of the Ultimate Tennis League after grabbing the Commonwealth TT singles crown and the Surat boy is looking to continue his good run in the league, which began at the Thyagraj Stadium in the capital on Thursday.

The 26-year-old is playing for the debutant team Puneri Paltan in the UTT and is upbeat about the team’s chances. He was named the captain on Thursday for Paltan.

“Puneri Paltan Table Tennis is a new team in UTT and leading a team which is making its debut is a huge responsibility.

I am grateful to the management and the coaches to believe that I will be able to shoulder this responsibility well. We will give our best this season and make a mark of Pune team in the Table Tennis fraternity,” Harmeet said.

Harmeet — who had halted giant-killer Pang Yu En Koen’s run in the semifinal — stunned top seed G. Sathiyan in a thrilling men’s singles final that went right down the wire to cap off a memorable week on an ideal note in Cuttack on Sunday.

Desai said, “Beating Sathiyan in the Commonwealth final was a special achievement. It was a dream come true for me and I cannot describe my feelings. I would love to extend my form in the UTT and for my new team Paltan.”

He added, “We are working really hard and we have a great team with young bloods, who are able to face the stiff challenge of the league. The expectation this year will be higher as all the teams are very good and the preparations have been very well.”

Harmeet was all praise for the support of the sports ministry in providing financial help and exposure trips to enhance the skills ahead of the tournaments.

“The support is immense from the sports ministry and the trips we are getting are all sanctioned and it helped us a lot.

The sport is growing in country and I hope India will be a powerhouse of TT in coming days.”

Though the players got less time to prepare for the UTT as they were coming after participating in the Commonwealth TT but they seemed enthusiastic and were looking forward to put their best foot forward in the 18-day tournament.

“Things are a bit hectic. We have so many obligations to fulfil. We are not complaining but the schedule is packed,” said Chennai Lions captain and country’s one of the finest paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal, who bowed out in the quarterfinal of the Common-wealth TT.

The third season of the league is being held in New Delhi with six teams in the fray and the first match will be played Thursday evening.

The league ends on August 11.