MUMBAI: While the Ceat Ultimate Table Tennis remains India’s first professional league for the sport and one of the most ambitious projects of 11Even Sports in their vision to bring success in the 2020, 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games, the sports promotion company also engages in several development programmes that works towards bringing table tennis talent across the country to the fore.
In this pursuit, 11Even Sports, at the successful conclusion of the inaugural edition of Ceat UTT on 30 July announced it will invest Rs. 2 million basis the performance of top ten players of the League towards the development of table tennis in India. The initiative titled ‘Ultimate Top Ten’- top 10 players who has scored the maximum points in the League, will promote the sport through grassroot development and encourage youngsters to pick the sport. China’s Wu Yang won the ‘Ultimate One’ prize of Rs.1,50,000 for scoring 456 points and being the leader in the points table along with winning the title of Most Valuable Player- Female and a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000. Teammate, Liam Pitchford won the MVP- male and prize money of Rs. 1,00,000 as Falcons TTC outclassed Shaze Challengers 14-9 to win the inaugural edition of Ceat UTT
“To make the sport more popular and reach out to every TT enthusiast, just a league won’t be enough. We need to build a pyramid structure to make India a force to reckon in the sport. We, therefore, decided to make this investment of Rs 2 million back into the sport to begin with,” said Ultimate Table Tennis owner & promoter Vita Dani.
Wu Yang, the winner of Ceat Ultimate Table Tennis title, MVP-female as well as the Ultimate One, too was excited at a victorious conclusion of her campaign. “This was my first experience and I must say it has been very exciting and memorable for me. The League was so well organised and then winning the title as well as the Ultimate One and MVP has been an experience I’ll always remember. I have had a great time with everyone in India and look forward to coming back soon,” said the world No. 13.
