Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), India’s premier professional table tennis league, has announced a long-term partnership with Butterfly, one of the world’s leading table tennis equipment brands, to build a structured amateur and semi-professional competition ecosystem across India.
The collaboration marks a significant step in UTT’s mission to strengthen the sport’s foundation at the grassroots level and create a clear pathway for emerging players to transition into the professional circuit.
The initiative will see UTT and Butterfly co-curate a series of new competitive intellectual properties (IPs) designed to broaden participation and raise the overall standard of Indian table tennis.
As part of the agreement, Butterfly will serve as the title sponsor for four national-level amateur tournaments over the next two years. The first event in this series, the Butterfly-UTT Challenger Cup, is scheduled to take place from November 20 to 23, 2025, at the JVPG Club in Mumbai. The competition will feature youth categories for both boys and girls in the Under-11, Under-13, and Under-15 divisions.
Commenting on the partnership, Ekansh Gupta, CEO, Ultimate Table Tennis, said, “This collaboration with Butterfly reflects our shared vision of building a strong and sustainable ecosystem for table tennis in India. UTT has consistently invested in the sport’s growth, from elite competition to grassroots development, and this initiative extends that commitment to the amateur level. By working with a global leader like Butterfly, we’re shaping pathways for young players to stay inspired, compete confidently, and dream bigger.”
Takako Osawa, President and Managing Director, Tamasu Co., Ltd. (Butterfly), added, “We are delighted to collaborate with UTT, a leading organization driving the growth of table tennis in India, and to support the players in India through this partnership. Through this initiative, Butterfly is committed to helping amateur and young players pursue their dreams and grow, while contributing to the further development of table tennis culture in India. We hope that this partnership will help share the joy of table tennis with more people, connecting hearts and opening new possibilities within the table tennis community in India.”
To promote inclusivity and ensure competitive balance, the tournament will not feature top-seeded district players, specifically, the top two seeds in the U-11 category and the top four in the U-13 and U-15 categories. The prize pool includes INR 5,000 for winners, INR 3,000 for runners-up, and INR 1,500 for third-place finishers, along with trophies, medals, and Butterfly merchandise.
Butterfly will equip the tournament venues with its official playing gear, including tables, nets, and balls, and provide branded kits and equipment to participants.
The partnership signifies a pivotal development in UTT’s broader ambition to evolve India’s table tennis structure from grassroots to elite levels. For Butterfly, it represents a deepened commitment to India’s rapidly growing sports market and aligns with its global strategy of fostering athlete development and accessibility.
Through this initiative, UTT and Butterfly aim to create a seamless link between amateur and professional table tennis, ensuring India’s next generation of players has the resources, exposure, and opportunities to compete at the highest levels.
