The fifth season of the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) kicked off with the Athlead Goa Challengers defeating the Jaipur Patriots 9-6 in a thrilling opener at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Harmeet Desai initially dominated the match against World No. 146 Cho Seungmin, winning the first game 11-2, but then lost his rhythm and succumbed to Seungmin, who won the next two games decisively. Yangzi Liu continued her impressive form from the previous season, winning her match against Suthasini Sawettabut 3-0. The season features eight teams, including multiple Olympians and world champions, and aims to showcase intense competition over 23 ties until the finale on September 7. Harmeet expressed confidence in their title defense, while the Jaipur Patriots sought to make a strong impression as newcomers. The league promises to highlight emerging talents and rekindle rivalries among established players.