Tag: 2025 ITTF World Championships

African champion Hana Goda continued her impressive run at the 2025 ITTF World Championships, storming into the third round of the Women’s Singles in Doha, Qatar.

Improving on her 2023 performance in Durban, South Africa—where her journey ended in the second round—Goda confidently dispatched Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi 4-1 on Monday, May 19, at Qatar University.

Facing the South American who had earlier eliminated Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka, Goda responded strongly after dropping the first set 9–11. From the second set onward, she was in dominant form, executing a range of tactics that overwhelmed her opponent.

Aside from a brief setback in the fourth set, where she trailed twice, Goda controlled the match and maintained the lead throughout. She closed the tie convincingly at 4-1 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7), becoming the only African woman to reach the third round of the singles event.

Read Also: NFF, Ogun State seal pact on football matches and events!

However, a major challenge awaits as she prepares to face the tournament’s fourth seed, Wang Yidi of China, in the next round.

Meanwhile, England’s Tom Jarvis caused a major upset at the ITTF World Championships, stunning No.10 seed Dang Qiu with a dramatic 4-3 victory (11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 1-11, 6-11, 11-8).

Coming into the match as the underdog, Jarvis took on one of the sport’s top names—Qiu, a semi-finalist at the WTT Finals Men Doha just last year.

Jarvis made a blistering start, storming to a 10-3 lead in the opening game. Although Qiu narrowed the gap to 10-9, the Englishman held his nerve to clinch the opener. Riding the momentum, he went on to take the next two games, moving within striking distance of a sensational victory.

Qiu, known for his resilience, mounted a spirited comeback, claiming the fourth, fifth, and sixth games to level the match and shift momentum in his favour.

But Jarvis wasn’t finished yet. Regrouping for a decisive seventh game, he rediscovered his rhythm just in time. With nerves of steel and explosive shot-making, he sealed the match and delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable wins.

The 2025 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships officially got underway on Saturday, May 17, in the vibrant city of Doha, Qatar, with Nigeria making an early impression in the Singles and Mixed Doubles events.

This prestigious global tournament features over 300 athletes from more than 70 member associations, competing across five categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. The action will unfold over nine thrilling days at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall and Qatar University Sports Complex.

In one of the standout matches of the opening day, Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo and Kabirat Ayoola delivered a gripping performance in the Mixed Doubles. The duo edged out Egypt’s Mahmoud Helmy and Hend Fathy in a five-game thriller, winning 3-2 (9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7) to advance to the second round.

Despite a rocky start, dropping the first game, Omotayo and Ayoola showed resilience and tactical brilliance to turn the match around and secure a hard-fought victory.

However, it was a tough day for several African players in the Singles events. Nigeria’s Hope Udoaka fell to Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi in straight sets (3-11, 1-11, 6-11, 8-11), while Egypt’s Aly Ghallab, Ethiopia’s Darara Dufera, and Madagascar’s Fabio Rakotoarimanana also exited early after 4-0 defeats to their respective opponents.

Read Also: NFF clears air on alleged unpaid salary to Chukwu

There was better news for Egypt’s Yousra Helmy, who impressed with a 4-1 (11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6) win over Australia’s Jocelyn Lam to move into the second round of the Women’s Singles.

Africa’s highlight of the day came from Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna. The 2024 African Cup champion showcased his class with a commanding 4-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9) victory over Brazil’s Victor Ishiy, reinforcing his status as one of the continent’s top contenders.

Elsewhere, the tournament saw its first major upset as unseeded Italians Mihai Bobocica and Niagol Stoyanov stunned 12th seeds Eduard Ionescu and Bernadette Szőcs with a dominant 3-0 (15-13, 11-7, 11-3) win in the Mixed Doubles.