PBG Bengaluru Smashers Name Alvaro Robles Captain For Ultimate Table Tennis 2024

Star Spanish paddler Alvaro Robles will lead PBG Bengaluru Smashers in the IndianOil Ultimate Table Tennis 2024 as team captain, starting with the opening match against Chennai Lions at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Robles, 33, will spearhead a talented sextet, which includes Indian ace Manika Batra, USA sensation Lily Zhang, youngsters Jeet Chandra and Taneesha Kotecha, and the highly experienced Amalraj Anthony. Robles is now in his fourth year in Ultimate Table Tennis and his first with PBG Bengaluru Smashers. The team will be banking on the intensity and prowess of the Spanish powerhouse, who has qualified for the playoffs on all three of his previous appearances, to lead them from the front. A two-time Olympian, Robles starred in last season's UTT final, sweeping Indian great Achanta Sharath Kamal 3-0 in a tie that highlighted his lethal attack and robust defence and proved crucial in his team's win.

Punit Balan, CEO of Punit Balan Group, owners of PBG Bengaluru Smashers said: "We are delighted to have Alvaro Robles as the captain of the PBG Bengaluru Smashers. Alvaro's track record speaks for itself-he's a proven champion with the heart of a leader. His experience, both on the international stage and within this league, makes him the perfect choice to lead our team. We believe in building a team that embodies excellence and teamwork, and with Alvaro at the helm, we're excited about what this season holds for the Smashers."

Robles' remarkable achievements include a historic silver medal at the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary, making him the first Spaniard to reach such heights in the sport. Furthermore, Robles, who represented Spain in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris