It's important to start well, Goa Challengers have experience to aim for UTT title win: Szocs

Panaji, Jul 18 (PTI) Romanian star Bernadette Szocs believes the vast experience across the Dempo Goa Challengers roster gives the franchise enough firepower to target the title in the seventh edition of Ultimate Table Tennis. With Spain's Alvaro Robles and Bernadette Szocs as their overseas players, the Goa Challengers also have rising Indian talents Abhinandh PB and Syndrela Das, whose impressive performances have helped their side remain at the top of the league. While Abhinandh began the season with a 3-0 win over higher ranked Frenchman Lilian Bardet, a few days ago the 16-year-old Syndrela caused a massive upset when she beat Indian star Manika Batra 3-0. "… this year it is very good for Syndi (Syndrela) and Abhi that they are with me and Alvaro in team, because we have already a lot of experience and it is a very important thing, for we can try to take the title," Szocs told reporters on the sidelines of the UTT. "The truth is that this Indian league is so different than other leagues. I learned so many things from here because you have to play just three games, especially when you are in playoffs, or semifinals or the final," she shared her thoughts about the league. "It's very important to start good because who is reaching the first eight (game wins) is the winner. It's a lot of pressure also. I can say it's different because you know every point is very important, because even if it's 14-0, this game can change all the system," she added. For Szocs, the experience of having won the UTT season six with Abhinandh in the U Mumba was a start of a special journey. "Last year in U Mumba, when we were the champions, we were in the same team. I didn't expect to play mixed doubles with him but I am very happy because we know each other very well," Szocs noted. "I practiced with her (Syndrela) first time this year in Chennai, it was during the WTT (Star Contender). When I practiced with her, I felt the quality of the ball and I said she will be very big." "With time, she has been getting better and better and I heard that she made many big results already. I take her like my little sister," Szocs added. Szocs likened Abhinandh's style of play in the season opener to that of the Chinese players. "What Abhi did at the table, he really showed like he was Chinese. Abhi will have same very good results in the future. Anyway, he already has some. I try to help them to gain experience and to try to make a beautiful team," she said, talking about Abhinandh and the Asian Games-bound Syndrela. Szocs recently helped Romania clinch a historic bronze medal — the country's first in 26 years — at the WTT Team Championships in London. She said winning the silver medal with Sofia Polcanova in WTT Championships in 2025 helped in terms of experience. "It's a very big for table tennis especially for Romania because last year I won the first medal in women's double with Polcanova Sofia, who is also here in the league for Ahmedabad," she said. "It was the best feeling ever I could feel in the sport because everybody knows that Asians are the best, the Chinese, Japanese, Chinese Taipei, Korea.. they are the best and it's very hard to go to take a medal," Szocs added. PTI DDV DDV AH AH