Global table tennis brand Butterfly isn’t expecting immediate returns from its long-term partnership with the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), and just wants to be part of the “exciting” franchise-based league in India.
The seventh edition of the tournament concluded at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Panjim, Goa, after U Mumba retained the title with an 8-5 win over home team Goa Challengers on Sunday. Present in the crowd was Butterfly president and representative director Takako Osawa.
“It’s quite rare to see a mixed team format in leagues around the world. The rules are quite unique to UTT. Each game means a lot, so there’s always this tension. That thrilling effect is quite significant as one of the spectators sitting there. I appreciated the passion and the fire that I felt while sitting in the stands,” Osawa told reporters via a translator after the final.
Before the season began, a five-year partnership between Butterfly and UTT was announced, with the former being the title sponsor of the league.
“ Butterfly will supply equipment to support broader initiatives across the UTT ecosystem, aligning closely with efforts to drive greater participation and enhance the visibility of table tennis across India. It will also work to strengthen grassroots development through initiatives such as the Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis Challenger Cup, local leagues, and academy programs,” a statement from April read.
This association was being mulled by both parties for some time.
“In 2023, UTT had approached us, but we thought the timing wasn’t right for the title sponsorship. But still, we considered collaborating with UTT. That’s when we decided to work with them for the amateur event,” Osawa recalled.
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The amateur and semi-professional event mentioned is the Challenger Cup, the first of which was held at the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club in Mumbai between November 20 and 23 last year. The event had Under-11, U-13, and U-15 categories for boys and girls.
“We do not see or expect any immediate returns of this investment, so to speak. We just want to be part of this exciting UTT league. In this way, we can stay engaged with what’s happening in the Indian table tennis community,” Osawa began.
“We appreciate the passion with which UTT is striving for the promotion of table tennis, something with which we resonate greatly. Our motto has been to promote the game throughout the world and India is a wonderful place for that,” she added.
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Published on Jul 27, 2026