UTT Juniors' top overall draft pick, Ahona Ray, and one of India's brightest young talents, Somdev Sengupta, starred as U Mumba TT defeated Dabang Delhi TTC 5-2 to lift their maiden Dream UTT Juniors title on Sunday at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium. The triumph came a year after U Mumba had finished runners-up in the inaugural edition.
Dr. Ajay R. Gaude, Executive Director, Sports Authority of Goa, presents the Dream UTT Juniors Season 2 Champions Trophy to U Mumba's Somdev Sengupta and Ahona Ray, alongside the team CEO Suhail Chandhok, in the presence of Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation
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Ahona arrived in Goa fresh from adding another international title to her growing resume, having won the Under-15 Girls' Singles crown at the WTT Youth Star Contender Doha 2026. She capped another memorable week by sealing the UTT Juniors title for U Mumba with a commanding 11-4 victory over Sreejani Chakraborty in the deciding Girls' Singles match.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahona said, “It's exciting to win the title. It was a complete team effort, and it wouldn't have been possible without Somdev, our coaches, and the entire support staff. Our coach reminded us that U Mumba had finished runners-up last year and told us to go out, enjoy ourselves, and play our game. I'm grateful to everyone. Training alongside the senior players has also been a great experience. They've been incredibly supportive.”
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Earlier, Somdev had laid the platform with an impressive 2-1 win over Himon Mondal, before combining with Ahona to clinch the Mixed Doubles in another three-game battle. Their victories gave U Mumba a significant advantage before Ahona completed the job in emphatic fashion.
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Earlier, Somdev had laid the platform with an impressive 2-1 win over Himon Mondal, before combining with Ahona to clinch the Mixed Doubles in another three-game battle. Their victories gave U Mumba a significant advantage before Ahona completed the job in emphatic fashion.
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“I'm really happy. It was always a dream to play in UTT Juniors, and to win the title makes it even more special. Our coach helped us immensely, and we couldn't have done it without him and the entire support staff. Our senior players also inspired us throughout the tournament. They were there cheering us on during both the semifinals and the final, and that meant a lot to us,” Somdev added.
UTT Juniors, held alongside Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7, is the league's grassroots initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing the next generation of Indian table tennis talent. Featuring the country's most promising junior paddlers–who represent the seven Butterfly UTT franchises–the competition provides young athletes with invaluable experience in a professional, franchise-based environment while sharing the stage with some of the world's best players.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.
Home/Sports/Others/UTT Juniors: Top pick Ahona Ray, Somdev Sengupta lead U Mumba TT to maiden title
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