U Mumba TT clinched their maiden Dream UTT Juniors title on Sunday, defeating Dabang Delhi TTC 5-2 at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium. The win completed a breakthrough campaign for U Mumba, who had finished runners-up in the inaugural edition a year earlier, and it was driven by standout performances from top overall draft pick Ahona Ray and rising talent Somdev Sengupta.
Ahona, arriving in Goa after winning the Under-15 Girls’ Singles title at the WTT Youth Star Contender Doha 2026, capped her week by sealing the championship in emphatic fashion. In the deciding Girls’ Singles match, she beat Sreejani Chakraborty 11-4 to close out the title for U Mumba.
After the final, Ahona credited the collective effort behind the win, calling it a “complete team effort” and highlighting the role of Somdev, the coaches, and support staff. She also noted the value of training alongside senior players, describing their support as a key part of the experience.
How U Mumba TT built the winning margin
Somdev Sengupta set the tone earlier in the tie with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Himon Mondal. Somdev took the first two games 11-5 and 11-10 before dropping the third 8-11, but his early win helped establish momentum for U Mumba in the race to five points.
With the contest still finely balanced, Somdev and Ahona then combined in Mixed Doubles and delivered another three-game win, again against Himon Mondal and Sreejani Chakraborty. The U Mumba pair won the first two games 11-9 and 11-7, before conceding the third 9-11, but the 2-1 result further strengthened U Mumba’s advantage in the final.
Those back-to-back contributions from Somdev—first in singles and then alongside Ahona in doubles—created the platform U Mumba needed before Ahona stepped in to finish the job in the Girls’ Singles decider. Her 11-4 win over Sreejani Chakraborty ensured U Mumba crossed the line and secured the 5-2 overall victory against Dabang Delhi TTC.
Somdev, reflecting on the achievement, said it had been a dream to play in Dream UTT Juniors and that winning the title made it even more special. He also credited the coach and support staff, while noting the inspiration and encouragement provided by senior players during the semifinals and final.
Match results (as listed)
Somdev Sengupta bt. Himon Mondal 2-1 (11-5, 11-10, 8-11)
Somdev Sengupta/Ahona Ray bt. Himon Mondal/Sreejani Chakraborty 2-1 (11-9, 11-7, 9-11)
Ahona Ray bt. Sreejani Chakraborty 1-0 (11-4)
What Dream UTT Juniors represents
Dream UTT Juniors is held alongside Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 and serves as the league’s grassroots initiative to identify and nurture the next generation of Indian table tennis talent. The competition features promising junior paddlers representing the seven Butterfly UTT franchises, offering them experience in a professional, franchise-based environment while sharing the stage with elite players.
Butterfly UTT Season 7 matches are broadcast live on Star Sports Khel (Hindi), Star Sports Tamil 2 HD and Star Sports Tamil 3 HD, and streamed live on JioHotstar in Hindi, Tamil and English.
