No clash of dates between Commonwealth TTC and UTT

The potential clash of dates between the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship (CTTC) and the seventh edition of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) in July has been averted, with all stakeholders agreeing to ensure the two events do not overlap.

The Hindu understands that UTT executives met representatives of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) and the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) in New Delhi last week to work out a mutually acceptable solution.

Multiple officials, requesting anonymity, confirmed that the seventh edition of UTT will be held in Goa from July 9 to 26. The 22nd edition of the CTTC will then begin in New Delhi on July 27, with the finals scheduled for August 2.

The revised schedule ensures that top Indian paddlers, as well as players from Commonwealth table tennis strongholds such as Singapore, Nigeria and England, will be able to participate in both events.

Initially, UTT had been allotted two potential windows — July 9 to 26 and July 16 to August 2. While UTT was deliberating over a mid-July start, the TTFI secured hosting rights for the CTTC, which was awarded the July 23 to August 2 window.

The overlap prompted the TTFI to bring all stakeholders to the table. After discussions, the parties agreed on back-to-back scheduling to safeguard players’ interests and avoid dilution of the quality of players participating in both prestigious competitions.

Patriots terminated from UTT

Meanwhile, Jaipur Patriots, one of the two recent additions in the UTT since its return after the pandemic, has been terminated for non-payment of dues to the promoters of the league.

According to a statement issued by 11Sports, promoters of UTT, the termination was inevitable due to “repeated non-compliance with the terms of the executed franchise agreement and persistent payment defaults owed to 11Sports under the contract.” A new team will be inducted as the Patriots’ replacement ahead of UTT 2026.