U Mumba successfully defended its Ultimate Table Tennis crown with an 8-5 victory over Goa Challengers in the 2026 final at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium on Sunday, ending the latter’s unbeaten run and becoming only the second team in the league’s history to retain the title.
The defending champion claimed the winner’s prize of ₹60 lakh, while runner-up Goa Challengers received ₹40 lakh. Losing semifinalists Dabang Delhi and Kolkata Thunder Blades earned ₹17.5 lakh each.
Goa entered the summit clash with an unblemished record throughout the tournament, while U Mumba had recovered from an early setback in the competition to reach its second consecutive final. The closely contested tie went the full distance, unlike the semifinals, before U Mumba emerged victorious.
The final began with 18-year-old Abhinandh P. B. giving Goa the early advantage against Lilian Bardet. Replicating the result from the teams’ league-stage meeting, Abhinandh secured the win despite Bardet taking the third game to put U Mumba on the board.
Goa captain Bernadette Szocs then strengthened her side’s position with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wales’ Anna Hursey. After dropping the opening game, the Romanian fought back to win the contest and celebrated with her trademark heart gesture and spins, helping Goa move ahead 4-2.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the mixed doubles. Hursey partnered captain Manush Shah to take on Syndrela Das and Alvaro Robles, with the U Mumba pair delivering a dominant 3-0 victory. Their coordination was evident throughout the match, including a spectacular rally in which Shah produced a forehand chop from beneath the table before Hursey finished the point down the line. The defeat left Robles visibly frustrated and gave U Mumba complete control of the tie.
Robles responded in the singles by claiming one game against Shah to keep Goa’s hopes alive. The contest featured several lengthy rallies, but Shah held his nerve in the crucial moments, winning the Golden Point in the second game to level the match before sealing the victory. His performance proved decisive as U Mumba strung together six consecutive game wins to establish a 7-5 lead.
Needing just one more game, U Mumba turned to Anusha Kutumbale in the final match. She remained composed under pressure, converting the Golden Point in the opening game after Syndrela Das’ return clipped the net and drifted out. The winning point sparked jubilant celebrations as U Mumba’s players rushed onto the court, embracing Anusha before celebrating together after successfully defending the Ultimate Table Tennis title.
