Few days after missing out from the men’s singles title at the just concluded ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Morocco, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has been nominated among the four short-listed players for the 2016 ITTF Star Awards.
In a statement issued by the world table tennis ruling body, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Quadri, a fomer winner of the awards in 2014 will jostle for the male awards alongside world and Olympic champion, China’s Ma Long, World Cup Champion, China’s FAN Zhendong as well as Rio Olympic bronze medalist, Japan’s Jun MIZUTANI.
According to ITTF the winners will be crowned at the 2016 ITTF Star Awards in Doha, Qatar on December 8, 2016.
The 2016 ITTF Star Awards, which will be in its fourth edition, will be held at the Doha’s famous and prestigious Sheraton Hotel to celebrate the world’s best table tennis players’ achievements in 2016.
Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA), President and ITTF Deputy President Khalil AL-MOHANNADI stated: “On behalf of QTTA, I am excited to be hosting the celebrations for the world’s best table tennis players in Doha, Qatar. QTTA have very elaborate plans for the 2016 ITTF Star Awards and everyone in attendance and fans around the world watching on TV will surely enjoy the show we have planned to honour the most important people in our sport, the athlete’s and their achievements in 2016”
The nominees for the Male Table Tennis Star presented by DHS, as nominated by the ITTF Athletes’ Commission:
Quadri ARUNA (NGR): First ever African Olympic Games Quarterfinalist. Highest ever world ranked African player at 25 in the world; FAN Zhendong (CHN): 2016 Men’s World Cup champion, 2016 World Team Champion, two 2016 ITTF World Tour Super Series titles; MA Long (CHN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles and Team Champion, 2016 World Team Champion, two 2016 ITTF World Tour Super Series titles and Jun MIZUTANI (JPN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles Bronze Medalist and Team Silver Medalist, 2016 World Team Championships Silver Medalist, three 2016 ITTF World Tour titles.
The nominees Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku, as nominated by the ITTF Athletes’ Commission:
DING Ning (CHN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Singles and Team Champion, 2016 World Team Champion, two 2016 ITTF World Tour Super Series titles; Miu HIRANO (JPN): 2016 Women’s World Cup Champion, 2016 ITTF World Tour Polish Open Champion; Mima ITO (JPN): Rio 2016 Olympic Games Team Bronze Medalist which made her the Youngest ever table tennis Olympic Medalist, 2016 World Team Championships Silver Medalist and Kim SONG-I (PRK): Rio 2016 Olympic Games SinglesBronzeMedalist, 2016 World Team Championships Bronze Medalist, 2016 ITTF World Tour Pyongyang Open Champion
In addition to the Male and Female Table Tennis Stars, six other awards will be handed in Doha and they are Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue, Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International, Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly, Table Tennis Star Point presented by Seamaster, Table Tennis Breakthrough Star presented by Monday Club and Table Tennis Fair Play Star.