Tag: Aruna Quadri

Nigerian table tennis legend, Aruna Quadri, has reflected on his 15-year professional journey, sharing both the highs of private support and the lows of inadequate government backing.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, Aruna traced his career back to 2010, when he moved to Portugal to compete in the Portuguese Super League.

 “Fifteen years ago, I arrived in Portugal to play professionally, competing almost every weekend for my club,” he wrote.

The African number one revealed that most of his international appearances were made possible through the support of individuals, notably Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi, now president of the Africa Table Tennis Federation.

 “Internationally, I played at least one tournament every month with the backing of Barrister Oshodi. His financial support helped me to improve rapidly,” Aruna recalled.

Despite these efforts, the 2022 ITTF Africa Cup champion lamented the lack of government involvement, saying he often represented Nigeria without a coach.

 “With zero support from the Nigerian government, I played 99% of tournaments alone, without a coach. I had to fund most of my travels myself,” he said.

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He recounted how crucial private support was at key stages of his career, such as the 2014 World Cup in Düsseldorf, where equipment sponsor Joola provided him with a German coach, while Oshodi covered his flight and accommodation costs. That support helped him reach the quarter-finals.

However, similar support was absent at the 2025 World Championships in Doha, where he had to personally purchase his flight ticket after the Nigerian federation failed to act in time.

 “I played my first two matches with coach Dotun Omoniyi, and I felt very comfortable. But after my wins, Nigeria said he could not continue coaching me because there was no money to extend his stay. I later had to pay my friend from Togo, Fanny, to adjust his flight so he could coach me in the round of 32. With his help, I reached the round of 16,” he revealed.

Looking ahead, Aruna stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to invest in developing young talents.

 “It’s very important that Nigeria starts investing in young players, allowing them to attend tournaments regularly,” he emphasized.

The 36-year-old ended his message by thanking his sponsors, friends, and supporters who have stood by him throughout his career.

Aruna Quadri has made a name for himself in the African table tennis history  and his consistency since he gained limelight more than 10 years ago, is a study in perseverance  and  prominence after he shot to the top of the continent yet again in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings, writes TUNDE LIADI.

For more than a decade, Aruna Quadri has carried the weight of African table tennis on his shoulders, blending sheer talent with an unyielding determination that continues to set him apart.

From humble beginnings in Oyo State, Nigeria, to global acclaim on the ITTF stage, Quadri’s journey is not just about victories—it is about resilience, consistency, and the unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

No wonder it was no surprise when the Nigerian and African table tennis  king, retained his place as the continent’s number one despite slipping three places to 26th  in the latest International Table Tennis Federation world rankings released.

Aruna now has 1,185 points, keeping him ahead of long-time rival Omar Assar of Egypt, who remains 33rd on 930 points.

The Nigerian’s lead comes despite losing to Assar in the round of 64 at the WTT Europe Smash in Sweden last week, with the ranking system rewarding consistency and cumulative results over the past 12 months.

Key to Aruna’s position are points gained from earlier tournaments, including 350 points from finishing runner-up at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis and 210 points from a semi-final run at the WTT Star Contender in Doha. He also earned 175 points for reaching the round of 16 at the ITTF World Championships earlier this year.

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Relentless Spirit

Quadri is renowned for his explosive forehand and aggressive playing style, but behind the spectacle lays a story of tenacity. Rising from an environment where infrastructure and support for table tennis were limited, he relied heavily on self-belief and tireless training. Unlike many of his global rivals who honed their craft in well-funded systems, Quadri carved his path against the odds, transforming obstacles into motivation.

Africa’s Standard-Bearer

For years, he has held the crown as Africa’s number one, consistently fending off challenges from rising stars across the continent. His triumph at the 2014 ITTF Star Awards, where he was named ITTF Star Player of the Year, and his historic quarterfinal run at the Rio 2016 Olympics, underscored not only his personal achievements but also Africa’s place at the top level of world table tennis.

Longevity at the top

What makes Quadri exceptional is his sustained dominance. In a sport where younger, faster athletes emerge season after season, the Nigerian maestro has remained a fixture at the highest level. His longevity is rooted in discipline, adaptability, and an unshakable mental toughness. Even in his thirties, Quadri continues to defeat players ranked among the world’s elite, proving that experience and persistence can rival youth and flair.

Inspiration beyond the table

Beyond his personal records, Aruna Quadri has become a symbol of inspiration for African athletes. His journey emphasizes that success is not merely about talent but about commitment, perseverance, and resilience in the face of adversity. Young players across Africa now see him as proof that their dreams are valid, no matter the limitations of their environment.

When he became the first Nigerian and African to make it to the quarter final stage in the history of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in 2021, the then  ATTF  President,  Khaled El-Salhy,  was effusive with praises: “I am so proud of the super performance of Quadri Aruna here in 2021 WTTC – Houston. He is always breaking the records. And as one of the top African players participating in World Championships, he reached the quarter Final stage for the first time by any player from Africa. He is always working hard to improve himself and he has the quality to compete against world top stars in any major competition. “Aruna is a table tennis icon for Africa and a good role model to all our young players to emulate.”

The legacy of a fighter

Aruna Quadri’s story is one of longevity earned through grit, and his continued reign as Africa’s number one reflects a career built on sacrifice, consistency, and the relentless will to win. For African table tennis, he is not just a champion; he is a trailblazer whose legacy will endure long after he finally lays down his gauntlets.

Aruna Quadri has dominated African table tennis for over a decade, winning 4 African Championships, 7 Africa Cup titles, multiple African Games gold medals, and countless team trophies. Beyond titles, his greatest legacy is breaking barriers for African players on the global stage — consistently ranked among the world’s best and inspiring a new generation.

Aruna Quadri: Chronicle of Achievements:

African Championships

2018 – African Champion (Singles, Mauritius)

2022 – African Champion (Singles, Algeria)

2023 – African Champion (Singles, Tunisia)

2024 – African Champion (Singles, Rwanda)

African Games

2011 (Maputo, Mozambique) – Semi-finalist, Singles

2015 (Brazzaville, Congo) – Silver (Singles)

2019 (Rabat, Morocco) – Silver (Singles), Gold (Team event)

2023 (Accra, Ghana) -Silver (Singles)

ITTF Africa Cup

2014 (Lagos, Nigeria) – Champion

2017 (Agadir, Morocco) – Champion

2018 (Kenitra, Morocco) – Champion

2019 (Lagos, Nigeria) – Champion

2020 (Tunis, Tunisia) – Champion

2022 (Lagos, Nigeria) – Champion

2023 (Nairobi, Kenya) – Champion

Other Career Highlights

2014 – First African to win the ITTF Star Player of the Year (Male).

2014: The first African player to reach the quarter final at Men’s World Cup.

2017 – First African to reach the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Cup.

2017- The first African to win an ITTF tournament title outside Africa at Polish Open.

2022 – Broke into the Top 10 of ITTF World Rankings reaching a career-high of 10th in the world in May 2022. (The highest ever by an African)

Quadri Aruna  yesterday concluded his campaign at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, after a tough fourth-round defeat.

The proud Nigerian succumbed to Brazil’s Hugo Calderano in a one-sided Men’s Singles clash at the Lusail Arena on Thursday, May 22.

Billed as one of the tournament’s marquee matchups, the contest fell short of expectations, with Calderano displaying outright dominance from start to finish.

The South American star cruised to a commanding 4-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6) victory to book his place in the quarterfinals.

Tactically astute, Calderano effectively neutralized Aruna’s powerful forehand—his most dangerous weapon—by forcing the Nigerian into backhand exchanges, which proved largely ineffective.

Despite strategic input and encouragement from his coaching corner, Aruna struggled to find rhythm, committing numerous unforced errors that further tilted momentum toward his opponent.

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The 22-minute encounter showcased Calderano’s elite technique, including his blistering backhand and explosive forehand topspin, which consistently earned him points.

Despite the loss, Aruna continues to make history. At 36, he remains a trailblazer for African table tennis. He became the first African to reach the Round of 16 at the ITTF World Championships twice, following his quarterfinal appearance at the 2021 edition in Houston, USA. In Doha, he was the only African to finish in the top 16, further cementing his legacy.

Speaking after the match, Calderano acknowledged the threat posed by Aruna.

 “It’s never easy to stay at the same level in every competition, especially after winning the ITTF World Cup last month. I had to take some rest and resume training, focused because table tennis is unpredictable. Against someone like Aruna, you always have to be at your best,” Calderano said.

Africa’s hope of silverware at the World Table Tennis China Smash got evaporated yesterday following the elimination of Nigeria’s table tennis star Aruna Quadri and his Egyptian counterpart, Omar Assar, in the competition’s Round of 32 at the Shijingshan Shougang Park.

World number 21 Quadri put up a brave fight but he was beaten 3-1 by Swede Anton Kallberg to end the Nigerian campaign in the competition.

Kallberg who is ranked World number 24 won the first set 11-4 but Quadri responded in the second set winning it 11-6. The Swede narrowly beat the 36 year old in the third and fourth sets 11-8 and 11-9 respectively to zoom to the Round of 16. 

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Another game involving the highest ranked African player, Omar Assar produced another loss for the continent after the Egyptian was beaten 3-1 by Xiang Peng of China. 

It was an upset because the 21 year old Chinese is currently ranked number 68 in the world as against Assar who is ranked number 18. Peng quickly took the first set 11-5 but the Egyptian responded with 11-8 in the second set to tie the game 1-1 but Peng emerged victorious 12-10 after a nail biting game in the third set before taking the fourth set 11-7 to progress to the next round of the competition.