Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: U Mumba head coach John Murphy credited his players’ unwavering belief and resilience after the team staged a remarkable comeback to retain the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) title, overcoming favourites Dempo Goa Challengers in a thrilling final.
Despite Dempo Goa dominating the league stage with an unbeaten run, Murphy said U Mumba relied more on confidence than tactical changes heading into the title clash.
He acknowledged Goa’s outstanding campaign, describing them as the strongest team throughout the league. However, he said U Mumba entered the final with confidence after building momentum in the latter half of the season and delivering an impressive performance in the semi finals.
Murphy said the defending champions trusted the experience gained from last year’s triumph and believed their squad had the quality to deliver when it mattered most. That faith, he added, helped the team overcome the odds and successfully defend the championship.
Reflecting on the journey, Murphy admitted the opening day defeat to Dempo Goa was disappointing, but the team quickly regrouped and remained focused. Once it became clear they would face Goa again in the final, the players embraced the challenge despite their opponents being favourites.
He described retaining the UTT title as an immensely satisfying achievement, especially after seeing the players execute their plans under pressure on the biggest stage.
Murphy also praised his team’s character after recovering from a difficult start in front of a partisan home crowd. With U Mumba trailing 4-2 after the opening singles matches, he said the atmosphere strongly favoured the Goa side. However, momentum shifted during the mixed doubles contest, allowing U Mumba to gradually silence the crowd and gain confidence.
He singled out captain Manush Shah’s impressive comeback victory after losing the opening game as the turning point of the final, calling it the defining moment of the contest. Murphy also lauded Anusha Kutumbale for keeping her composure to seal the decisive points and complete U Mumba’s dramatic title defence.
