How UTT’s Vita Dani is powering women in sports entrepreneurship

Table tennis has always been a popular sport in India, but it is only in recent years that Indian players have been able to make a mark in the international scene. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Indian players, including Manika Batra, made history by becoming the first Indian to reach the Round of 16 in Olympic table tennis. This landmark success showcases the tremendous progress Indian athletes have made, reflecting their dedication and the growing prominence of the sport in India. Their exceptional performances have not only inspired a new generation but have also elevated the profile of table tennis on a national scale.

In conversation with Adgully, Vita Dani, Co-Promoter of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), speaks about the vision behind UTT, its evolution since its inception in 2017, and its role in nurturing young talent and enhancing the sport’s ecosystem. She also highlights the league’s impact on grassroots development and her efforts to promote women in sports entrepreneurship, underscoring the positive changes and future prospects for Indian table tennis.

What was your vision when you launched Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) in 2017, and how has the league evolved since its inception?

In 2017, when we started, it was not easy to convince players to play for the league. This is not only for Indians but also for the international players. In 2024, we have requests coming from players to come and play. That is the difference as far as players are concerned. As far as sponsorship is concerned, we had two sponsors for Season 1. Today, we have our full inventory sold out. That is very encouraging. As far as viewership digital numbers are concerned, they've almost doubled. In every way, it’s a win-win situation and a sweet spot to be in.

How can brands benefit from associating with Ultimate Table Tennis, and what unique opportunities does the league offer to its partners?

Table tennis is one of the sports that is being played around the world and is part of the top five most popular sports in the world. Whether it is played professionally or recreationally, it is popular, it’s easy to play. Brands would find clientele across popularity, across various age groups, different stratas, different audiences and I believe that since the numbers are going up digitally as well as on television, it would benefit the brands as well.

How will your role with the ITTF Foundation benefit grassroots table tennis in India, and how do you plan to promote women in sports entrepreneurship?

I have always believed that we can bring about a change in the system only if we are in the system and we have to lead by example. I hope that I can motivate and inspire many more women and girls to get involved in sports. What we are doing in sports is one more step in the direction that people feel that they can earn a living out of being involved in sports. And that’s true for the entire landscape. Whether you are a player, whether you are an organizer, whether you are involved in any other aspect, mental health, physical like physiotherapy, event management, nutrition, it could be anything. Somewhere we have to ensure that more girls, more women and more people are involved in sports in some capacity.

How significant is India’s historic qualification in table tennis for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and what role has UTT played in achieving this milestone?

The credit goes to the players, UTT has been successful in creating a platform and giving them an exposure that they can be the best in the world, they can beat some of the best in the world and they can compete. I think we would have definitely made a difference as far as their confidence level is concerned. We have international coaches and our Indian coaches, who come and spend time with them for almost three weeks in India, along with our Indian paddlers. I believe what they learn in those three weeks is valuable and I’m sure it helps them not only physically, mentally, tactically, technically, and it can truly take them towards this aim of being one of the best.

What initiatives has UTT undertaken to nurture and develop young talent in table tennis across India?

We support five academies. We were doing school programs, which we used to run in multiple states. We are looking at doing a municipal school program and we also support all national ranking and championships. While that cannot be considered grassroots, we need to ensure that it becomes inspirational and aspirational for players to come and participate. We have started running programs in societies, in complexes to ensure that we popularize the game and have more people play the game. And this is how we increase the broad base of the pyramid.

What is your vision for the future of UTT, and how do you plan to further bolster the sport’s ecosystem and take the league to the next level?

UTT has one aim – Indian table tennis has to win. The future for table tennis is only when Indian table tennis succeeds. Fortunately, we are at this point of time in history in India, where sport is being promoted and supported by the government for the first time. And I think that’s a huge encouragement. It’s a huge stepping stone and it solidifies our belief and our directive that we are also moving in the right direction. So, the future is bright and I feel this is just the beginning.

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