Mumbai: Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) in a pathbreaking partnership with Aatral, one of the leading metaverse solutions companies in India, aims to revolutionise fan engagement by creating an immersive and interactive virtual experience for table tennis enthusiasts for the very first time. Aatral, renowned for its expertise in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) development, will collaborate with UTT as its official metaverse partner to create next-level fan experience, and engagement and establish the league’s prominent presence in the virtual world.
Recognising the immense potential of the gaming industry and its significance in India, UTT is committed to providing fans with innovative ways to connect with the sport. The partnership also signifies their shared commitment to innovation and fan-centric experiences.
“We know that sports have always been a powerful force that unites people from diverse backgrounds. Through this collaboration in the Metaverse, UTT and Aatral will offer fans a distinctive environment with a variety of gaming options and table tennis-related experiences. These games will deliver an unprecedented degree of immersion by utilising VR, AR and mixed reality to transport players across borders,” commented UTT co-promoter Vita Dani.
Three to four table tennis-themed mini-games will be available to fans. Aatral will create a fan-engaging environment in 3D space which will allow fans to download and play the application from the Google Play Store, App Store and UTT website by the end of June 2023. These downloadable games will enhance the interactive capabilities of mobile devices to further increase fan involvement. Fans will be able to enjoy the thrill of table tennis not only during the league but anytime, anywhere with this portable gaming experience, giving the sport to connect the fans at their fingertips.
“We are thrilled to announce our association with the Ultimate Table Tennis team, the first of its kind in the metaverse for table tennis. At Aatral, we are committed to providing our users with immersive and interactive experiences that bridge the gap between the physical and virtual worlds. By partnering with UTT, we are enabling our users to enjoy the thrill of table tennis in a new and exciting way, as well as creating opportunities for social connection, learning, and entertainment. We are looking forward to being part of this groundbreaking event in sports leagues in the country!” stated Aatral Founder and CEO, Prem Balachandran.
As part of this collaboration, UTT and Aatral will also set up experiential stalls across select venues to reach out to students, youth and table tennis fans, featuring interactive stations where fans can don VR/AR equipment and engage in the virtual table tennis matches like never before.
By embracing the multiverse environment, UTT aims to create a lasting impact on fan engagement, providing an unparalleled platform for fans to connect with their favourite sport and players in ways they have never imagined.
Promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India, UTT Season Four will be played at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune from 13 to 30 July. Bengaluru Smashers, Chennai Lions, Dabang Delhi TTC, Goa Challengers, Puneri Paltan Table Tennis and U Mumba TT are the six franchisees that will compete for the title with live action being broadcasted on Sports 18 and streamed on JioCinema.
