5 coaches to debut in UTT season 6 as teams select their own coaching staff for first time

ANI April 3, 2025 125 views

The Ultimate Table Tennis league is set to revolutionize team coaching by allowing franchises to directly select their coaching staff for the first time. Season 6 will feature five new coaches, including international experts like Chris Pfeiffer and Raman Subramanian, bringing fresh strategic perspectives to the competition. The tournament will run from May 29 to June 15 in Ahmedabad, marking a significant milestone in the league's evolution. Reigning champions Goa Challengers will aim to secure their historic third consecutive title under this new coaching selection format.

"This season introduces exciting new coaching talent to an already formidable roster" - UTT Co-Promoters
New Delhi, April 3: Dronacharya Awardee Raman Subramanian, German specialist Chris Pfeiffer--who has coached stars like Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra--veteran trainers Pavel Rehorek and Julien Girard, and former India No. 1 Jubin Kumar are all set to make their Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) debuts in Season 6.

Key Points

1

Five international coaches make debut in franchise-based table tennis league

2

Teams gain unprecedented freedom in coach selection

3

Season runs from May 29 to June 15 in Ahmedabad

4

Reigning champions Goa Challengers seek third consecutive title

For the first time in the competition's history, teams have been given the freedom to handpick their own coaching staff. Joining them are returning coaches Elena Timina, Parag Agrawal, Subhajit Saha, Soumyadeep Roy, and Sachin Shetty, all eyeing their second UTT title, as per a UTT press release.

Subramanian, now leading Season 2 champions Dabang Delhi TTC, brings extensive experience from coaching India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and will team up with fellow debutant Girard in a fresh coaching partnership. Pfeiffer, now at the helm of Ahmedabad SG Pipers, has played a key role in Indian table tennis since 2022, while Rehorek boasts a coaching career spanning over three decades. Kumar, making his debut with Kolkata ThunderBlades, completes the lineup of newcomers. Meanwhile, seasoned coaches Timina, Shetty, and Vesna Ojstersek return for their sixth consecutive UTT season, ensuring continuity and expertise.

The franchise-based league, promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the aegis of the Table Tennis Federation of India, will take place from May 29 to June 15 at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad--a first-time UTT host.

Speaking about the coaching lineup, the UTT co-promoters said: "This season introduces exciting new coaching talent to an already formidable roster, further strengthening the league's rich pool of expertise. For the first time, teams were able to approach coaches directly and select their own staff, allowing them to build setups that align with their strategies. This added control will enhance competition and ensure players receive top-tier, tailor-made guidance from the sidelines."

Reigning champions Goa Challengers have reunited their Season 4-winning duo, Timina and Agrawal, as they aim for a historic third consecutive title. U Mumba TT have retained John Murphy as their foreign coach alongside Jay Modak, while Ojstersek joins former champion Saha at PBG Pune Jaguars.

Debutants Kolkata ThunderBlades have appointed Swedish coach Tobias Bergman to partner Kumar, while former champions Chennai Lions have opted for Roy and German trainer Jorg Bitzigeio. Jaipur Patriots have paired Shetty with first-time UTT coach Rehorek, while Ahmedabad SG Pipers will be guided by the duo of Somnath Ghosh and Pfeiffer.

Teams & Coaches

Ahmedabad SG Pipers: Somnath Ghosh; Chris Pfeiffer (Germany)

Jaipur Patriots: Sachin Shetty; Pavel Rehorek (Czech Republic)

PBG Pune Jaguars: Subhajit Saha; Vesna Ojstersek (Slovenia)

Goa Challengers: Parag Agrawal; Elena Timina (Netherlands)

Dabang Delhi TTC: Raman Subramanian; Julien Girard (France)

U Mumba TT: Jay Modak; John Murphy (Ireland)

Kolkata ThunderBlades: Jubin Kumar; Tobias Bergman (Sweden)

Chennai Lions: Soumyadeep Roy; Jorg Bitzigeio (Germany).

Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
So excited for this new season! The coaching lineup looks amazing 👏 Can't wait to see how the new strategies play out with teams choosing their own staff. Go Dabang Delhi! 💙
R
Rahul S.
Interesting move to let teams pick their own coaches. Hope this doesn't create too much imbalance between franchises with bigger budgets and smaller ones.
A
Anjali M.
Chris Pfeiffer coaching Ahmedabad is a game-changer! His work with Sharath Kamal has been phenomenal. Expecting big things from the Pipers this season 🏓
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Vikram P.
While I appreciate the new coaching talent, I think UTT should have maintained some continuity requirements. The complete overhaul might disrupt team chemistry early in the season.
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Sneha R.
So happy to see more Indian coaches getting opportunities alongside international experts! Raman Subramanian deserves this platform after his CWG success 🇮🇳
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Karan D.
Ahmedabad hosting for the first time! Perfect venue choice with the growing TT fanbase in Gujarat. Booked my tickets already - who else is going? 🙋‍♂️

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Ultimate Table Tennis Table Tennis UTT Season 6 Raman Subramanian Chris Pfeiffer Indian Sports
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