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Tag: Aruna Quadri

  • ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup: Aruna Quadri hopes for glorious start in Sudan

    ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup: Aruna Quadri hopes for glorious start in Sudan

    As long as Aruna Quadri wants to remember 2015 as a year he was named the ITTF Star Player, he will also want to forget it in a hurry as Egypt’s Omar Assar claimed three titles at his expense. From the ITTF World Tour in Lagos to African Senior Cup and African Games, Aruna Quadri played second fiddle to Omar Assar.

    But few days to the commencement of the 2016 ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Sudan, Aruna Quadri believes he is ready to shake off the defeats of 2015 while he expressed his intention recently when he beats Omar Assar in the French League.

    To affirm his willingness to be on top of his game this year, Quadri began the year with an impressive performance at the Hungarian and German Opens and this shot him to 37 in the latest ITTF ranking from the 48 which he began the year.

    A contented Quadri said: “None of my targets was accomplished in 2015 but yet I thank God despite series of defeat but it was not too bad as second place in some of the tournaments are better than nothing.”

    For 2016, he said: “My target is to do so much better than 2015. I will be very happy if my 2015 second places turn to gold and also helping my French team to remain in top division will be great. . I remain stronger in spirit despite the series of disappointment against Omar Assar of Egypt. To those that have the knowledge of sports, it is one of those things that happen in sports and surely there will be bad and good days but better days are ahead as I strongly believe.
    My last win against Omar Assar in the French league is a real confident booster.”

    “Winning the best player and star point of the year is one of the best in my career and I pray it is not going to be my best ever. I feel so great to have been crowned the best player in the world and it means that I must make hay while the sun shines. It does not really matter if I win the award again but the one I won already will remain in history of African table tennis forever.
    Winning the awards in the midst of the highly- rated Chinese and Portuguese players inspired me a lot and this mean that nothing is impossible to achieve,” he opined.

    Since moving to France, Aruna Quadri said his game has really improved as he now rubbed shoulders with the world’s best in the French League. “Playing in France has really improved my game and tactics. I think I am a better player than before according to my latest form and results in the league,” he said.

  • ITTF Ranking: Quadri returns to 35, Abiodun’s rating improves

    ITTF Ranking: Quadri returns to 35, Abiodun’s rating improves

    Having started the year on a good note with his impressive performance at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour in Hungary and Germany, Aruna Quadri’s efforts are yielding positively as the 2014 ITTF Star Player is now ranked 35 from the February 2016 ranking released on Wednesday by the world table tennis ruling body.

    Also Quadri’s compatriot, Bode Abiodun is one of the most active players in the latest ranking as the Portugal-based star moved up 23 places to be ranked 213 in the world.

    Quadri who started the year in top 48 moved up to 35 after beating Sweden’s Par Gerell, who was then rated 30 in the world at the German Open.

    Egypt’s Omar Assar maintained his status as the best ranked African player in the world despite dropping from 29 to 31.

    What would have been a massive improvement for Assar was thwarted at the German Open as the Egyptian nearly caused an upset when he battled Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the first round of the German Open.

    With home support for the German, Assar was in fine form when he rallied from 3-1 down to level the match at 3-3 only to lose the last game to prevent the biggest heart-ache for the Germans.

    A joyful Quadri told NationSport yesterday that he was excited returning the top in the world but he hopes to continue to work harder. “I feel great and happy to improve my ranking particularly starting early in the year. I hope and pray for great success in subsequent tournaments.”

    However, Quadri was on the losing side for his French club, Jura Morez as they were beaten 4-1 by Romagne late on Tuesday.

    In less than 11 days, Quadri will be battling it out with other top players in Africa for the sole slot in the 2016 ITTF World Cup when the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup serves off in Khartoum, Sudan.

    German Open champion, China’s Ma Long held on to his top place in the world rating while the best European player in the world, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov dropped to fourth from fifth in the world.

    However, Chinese players still maintained their supremacy at the top of the ranking with four of them led by Ma Long dominating the men’s ranking while they also held sway in the women’s rating with Shiwen Liu ranked number one.

  • 2016 Olympic: Egypt embarks on training tour of Singapore for Nigeria

    To ensure that they beat Nigeria to the sole spot in the team event of the Rio Olympic Games, Egyptian national team has moved their training camp to Singapore in readiness for the 2016 World Team Championship which serves as qualifiers.

    Aside Omar Assar who is playing in the French elite League alongside Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, every member of the Egyptian team are at present in Singapore warming up for the World Championship holding this month in Malaysia.

    Africa’s number one female player, Dina Meshref confirmed this, saying that they cannot afford to lose the spot to Nigeria as the West African remains the only stumbling block to the North African team ambition.

    “We are now in Singapore and we hope to play in two ITTF World Tours in Hungary and Germany. After this we will return to Singapore to continue training. We had already qualified for players in the singles event and we want to crown it with wining the sole slot in the men and women team events through the world championships in Malaysia. Nigeria is the only team we believe can give us a tough challenge and we don’t want to leave any chance for them,” she said.

    Also to serve as warning signal for Nigeria, Omar Assar was in fine form against world number four, Germany’s Dimitry Ovtcharov in a  thrilling round of 32 match at the just concluded German Open.

    A very proud Assar said: “I am very proud to be in Berlin playing particularly against the best players in the world. The German Open is a big part of the
    preparation for the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Sudan. Together with the camps
    and trainings with Chinese players is one highlights for this week for me,” he said.

    Meanwhile, President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy believes the Malaysia tourney would provide African teams to shape up for the Olympic Games as well as compete for the continent’s sole slot in the team event.

  • Table tennis fans applaud Quadri’s feat at German open

    Table tennis fans applaud Quadri’s feat at German open

    Table tennis fans on Friday applauded Aruna Quadri’s upset achieved at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world tour tagged “German Open’’.

    Unseeded Quadri upset Germany’s Par Gerell, ranked 30 in the world by ITTF 15-13, 9-11, 9-11, 11-3, 9-11, 2-11 (4-2) to make it into the main draw.

    The fans told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was a good way to make the main draw.

    NTTF’s Technical Director, Anderson Bankole urged Quadri to maintain the momentum with which he served off the competition.

    Bankole said that he started well and that it was essential to maintain the win syndrome.

    “I must confess that I am impressed by his opening match. He wore a fighting spirit and that’s one thing that’s synonymous with him.

    “I want him to be focused all through the competition and play all matches cautiously as they come.

    “With rapt concentration, he has what it takes to conquer everyone at the competition. Yes everyone came with the mind of wining but he should be focused,’’ Bankole said.

    Ojo Onaolapo advised his compatriot to use his experience in the sport to overcome every opposition at the tournament.

    He urged him to switch his style of play as often as possible.

    “I wouldn’t advise him to maintain a particular style of play. He should deviate as many times as possible.

    “He is a player that many are watching out for and wants to down play. I am sure they would have watched video clips of him while playing.

    “Quadri should play to surprise his opponents by displaying styles that will be strange to them,” Onaolapo said.

    In the same vein, a female player, Tosin Oribamise said that Quadri should play more of attacks than defence.

    “This will confuse his opponents and work in his favour.

    “I know Quadri as a good player that knows his onions, should play more of attacks,“ she said.

    NAN reports that Quadri was the first player to make it into the main draw.

    The competition served off on Jan. 27 and would end on Jan. 31, in Berlin, Germany.

  • ITTF World Tour: Quadri, Assar lead African stars to German Open

    ITTF World Tour: Quadri, Assar lead African stars to German Open

    • Joola gets German coach for Nigerian

    Africa’s best table tennis players, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Omar Assar will lead 15 other African players to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged German Open holding in Berlin from January 27 to 31.

    As the first Super series among the six in the ITTF World calendar, the German Open boasts $120,000 prize money with some of the world’s best including world number one, China’s Ma Long will be competing at the five-day tournament.

    Also to ensure that Aruna Quadri has a good outing in the competition, table tennis kits firm, Joola has engaged the services of former German coach, Martin Aldomeit, who handled the 2014 ITTF Star Player at the 2014 World Cup in Dusseldorf, Germany.

    Unlike the Major and Challenge series where players will compete from the group to qualify to the main draw, German Open is staged in a knockout format.

    Also only the top 16 in the world are seeded for the tournament with over 200 players competing for the 48 slots in the main draw of the men’s singles.

    Quadri, who recently made it to the last eight of the Hungarian Open is in fine shape for the tournament and he will also partner compatriot, Bode Abiodun in the doubles and they will be hoping for good outing just like they got to quarterfinal at the Hungarian Open in Budapest.

    Egypt has the largest number of players from Africa competing at the German Open with Omar Assar be joined by veterans like El-Sayed Lashin and Ahmed Saleh as well as Mohammed El-Beiali and Khalid Assar.

    Algeria will be led by Sami Kherouf and he will be joined by three other male players while Islem Laid will champion the female campaign for the North Africa.

    The best female player in Africa, Egypt’s Dina Meshref will lead other three players in the women’s singles and she will be hoping to better her first round exit at the Hungarian Open.

    In the draw conducted yesterday by the organisers, Nigeria’s Abiodun will begin his campaign against France’s Romain Lorentz, while Quadri will begin his battle from the second round against Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Shengto Lee.

    Meanwhile, many of the top players will be seeking to repeat previous triumphs they have had at the German Open.

    The names of the players in question are China’s Ma Long, the host nation’s Timo Boll and Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus. Furthermore, Dimitrij Ovtcharov can be added to the list as well as China’s Zhang Jike; all are previous winners

  • Quadri, Abiodun for ITTF World Tour in Hungary

    Quadri, Abiodun for ITTF World Tour in Hungary

    Nigeria’s players will be present when the first International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Hungarian Open serves off tomorrow with Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun competing in the men’s singles and doubles events.

    Already, Quadri has been listed among the 32 seeded players in the men’s singles while Abiodun will begin his campaign from the preliminary stage in order to secure a place in the main draw.

    However, before joining his compatriot, Quadri will lead his team – Jura Morez against Angers Vaillante in the French Premier League.

    The 2014 ITTF Star Player who departed his based in Lisbon, Portugal to France yesterday is hoping for another good outing against the star-studded Angers Vaillante side made up of top players like Sweden’s Jen Lundqvist and Jon Persson as well as France’s Christophe Legout and China’s Chen Jian.

    “I think I want to do well in the ITTF World Tour this year and reclaim my title in Africa as well as help Nigeria to do well at the World Championship. These are my priorities for this year and I believe with more hardwork and God’s grace, it will be achievable,” Quadri told NationSport.

    In the list of seeding, Quadri is rated number six and he will be campaigning from the main draw while he partner Abiodun to compete in the doubles event.

    The Hungarian Open is one of the major series tournament in the ITTF World Tour and it will take place in the capital city of Budapest from Wednesday January 20 to 24.

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  • ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup: Quadri, Assar rivalry moves to Sudan

    ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup: Quadri, Assar rivalry moves to Sudan

    In continuation of their 2015 fierce rivalry, two of Africa’s best table tennis players, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Omar Assar will next month in Khartoum, Sudan re-enact their competition at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Top 16 Cup.

      Despite being seeded ahead of Quadri in the December continental ranking released by the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Assar is aware of the task ahead of him having being humiliated in the French league by the 2014 ITTF Star Player last December.

      Quadri, who has fended off the pressure on him which affected most of his performance against the Egyptian in three major finals in 2015, is the right frame of mind to wrestle the dominance from the Egyptian.

      For the Sudan tournament, ATTF has confirmed Quadri and six-time Olympian, Segun Toriola as well as Olufunke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong as Nigeria’s flag-bearers.

      In the list of qualified released by ATTF, Quadri who won the tournament in 2014 in Lagos will battle for the title against his rival, Assar who has remained a threat to the Nigerian dominating the continent.

      The tournament is scheduled to hold on February 14 to 15 has the top 15 players in the continent including a player from the host country to complete the top 16.

      Toriola will join Quadri to compete for the laurel in the men’s event while Oshonaike who has already secured a place at this year’s Rio Olympic Games in Brazil will be joined in the women event by Edem Offiong who is at present plying her trade in the Portuguese elite league.

      Having claimed three titles in 2015, the Egyptian duo of Omar Assar and Dina Meshref top the list of invitees for the two-day tournament to be staged at the International Conference Centre in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan.

      Winners in the men and women events will represent the continent at the 2016 World Cups.

      The list of participants is: 

    Men:  Omar Assar (Egypt), Quadri Aruna (Nigeria), El-Sayed Lashin (Egypt), Saheed Idowu (Congo Brazzaville), Segun Toriola (Nigeria), Idir Khourta (Algeria), Suraju Saka (Congo Brazzaville), Olouwachehoun Guiganfode (Benin), Mawussi Agbetoglo (Togo), Sofiène Boudjadja (Algeria), Adem Hamam (Tunisia), Fessou Lawson-Gaizer (Togo), Alain Patrick Jague Niken Jiotsa (Cameroon), Derek Abrefa (Ghana), Emmanuel Ngwe Nikeng (Cameroon)

    Women: Dina Meshref (Egypt), Nadeen El-Dawlatly (Egypt), Han Xing (Congo Brazzaville), Olufunke Oshonaike (Nigeria), Offiong Edem (Nigeria), Sara Hanffou (Cameroon), Islem Laid (Algeria), Lynda Loghraibi (Algeria), Zodwa Maphanga (South Africa), Amma Liobaka (Democratic Republic of Congo), Onyinyechi Nwachukwu (Congo Brazzaville), Cynthia Kwabi (Ghana), Harriet Ntumnyuy (Cameroon), Celia baah-Danso (Ghana), Isabel Albino (Angola).

  • Quadri inspires Morez to first win in French League

    Quadri inspires Morez to first win in French League

    • Gives up on title chase

    The atmosphere was tensed and both teams knew what was at stake but it was Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri that saved the day for Jura Morez as the team claimed their first win to steer off relegation zone in the premiership division of the French Table Tennis League.

    Being the sixth match of the league, Morez are rooted on the bottom of the league table having lost all their previous five matches but things changed for better on Tuesday after Quadri and Wang Zhen performance in the encounter against Rouen took the team from the bottom of the league table.

    From the start of the tie, Zhiwen He Cheng could not withstand Jesus Cantero Juncal as the Chinese-born Spaniard lost 7-11, 12-10, 13-11, 9-11 to give Rouen a 1-0lead.

    However, Quadri restored the match for Morez as he battered Tan Ruiwu 11-9, 11-8, 12-10. Wang Zhen increased the lead for Morez as he overcame compatriot Shi Wei Dong 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-6.

    As an inspiration to the team, Quadri took the lead beyond their opponent as he was stretched to limit by Jesus Cantero Juncal but it was the 2014 ITTF Star Player that have an edge with 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10 win.

    Despite Zhiwen second loss, Wang Zhen completed the 4-2 rout by Morez as he walloped Tan Ruiwu 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 to give Morez overall 4-2.

    According to Quadri, the win has taken the pressure off the team. “There was a little sign of relief after our first league win last night. It was not an easy win for us as both teams fought harder for about four hours. The fans were so happy for the win. I was so happy last night for contributing to team success. I felt so great for winning two matches for my team as well and this will not get to my head as I will continue working harder. After losing first five matches, it’s going to be very difficult to contest for the title but we are not losing hope. Our focus now is to keep improving individually in order not to relegate,” he admitted.

    He added: “The win means that we are going out of relegation zone step by step and we will surely remain in first league. It also means that we are now moving to position nine from position 10.”

    The Oyo State-born athlete admitted that playing in the French league would surely improve his game. “I must confess, there is a big difference, French league comprises of top 100 players of the world while Portuguese league has no player in top 100 except me.
    Playing in the league has really improved my game step by step.
    Here in France nobody is sure of victory against any player but in Portugal I am always sure of victory against some certain players.”

    “My target is to lift the team more than their position last season.
    One of my targets is also to give my best and convince the team fans and team president in order to have another opportunity to play in the same team next season. Another target is to win above 50 percent in my matches and I really believe that it’s very possible as am now getting used to the system of play in French league,” he explained.

  • Quadri leads Morez’s relegation battle in French League

    Quadri leads Morez’s relegation battle in French League

    Despite spirited efforts by 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri to inspire Morez Jura’s charge for title in the elite French Table Tennis League, the Nigerian will however, today leads the team’s relegation battle in today’s encounter against Rouen.

    From the five league matches played by Morez Jura this season, the team is yet to record any victory despite Quadri’s fine form in all his matches.

    Twice, the team was unlucky to lose 4-2 in their previous matches and they will have to redouble their efforts as they begin quest to escape been relegated to the lower division.

    Morez Jura is now rooted at the bottom of the league table with five points while Pontoise-Cergy tops with 15 points.

    A determined Quadri told NationSport yesterday that the team is poised to record its first victory in the league this season. “We are confined to win this match because our fans are really looking forward to the victory. We have been unlucky in our previous matches and tomorrow (today) we will ensure we give our fans the excitement they have been looking forward to since the season started few months ago,” Quadri said.

    The 2015 African Games silver medalist added: “I think playing in the French league has really exposed me to a lot of new techniques in the game. I must admit that it is only the best that plays in the league because some of the world’s best are plying their trade in the league.

    “It has not been easy at all because everybody is playing good and for me, my team is still in contention for the title but for now we must battle to remain in the top division. The match against Rouen is a must win for us and I am sure we will win.”

  • Quadri slumps, Toriola leaps in latest ITTF world ranking

    Quadri slumps, Toriola leaps in latest ITTF world ranking

    Despite making it to the final of the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville, Aruna Quadri slumped in the October ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) while ageing Segun Toriola is among the players that leaped in their rating.

    Quadri, who made his debut yesterday in the French League dropped from 43 to 45 but still maintains his status as top 50 in the world.

    With his performance at the African Games, Quadri garnered 2270 points in October from the 2262 points he amassed in September, Quadri still plays second fiddle to Egypt’s Omar Assar who is now ranked 35 in the world from the 36 placed he was rated in September.

    Having being removed from the ranking following his inactivity in the last six months, Toriola made a triumph return to the world ranking as the former African champion is now ranked 167 in the world.

    Toriola’s giant stride was made possible following his 3-1 victory over Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s team final of the African Games.

    Meanwhile, wins over China’s Zhang Jike in both the Men’s Team and Men’s Singles events at the recent Suzuki 2015 ITTF-Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, sees Korea’s Jang Woojin make the most dramatic rise on the Men’s World Rankings.

    The 20 year-old moves from a previous best of no 41 to a new career high of no.24, on a list that sees the very top remain the same.

    China Ma Long remains at the pinnacle for 38th time in his career, being followed immediately by colleagues Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong and Zhang Jike.

    Winner of the Men’s Singles event at the Liebherr 2015 ITTF-European Championships in Ekaterinburg, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov retains his no.5 spot with Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Timo Boll, like Dimitrij Ovtcharov from Germany, once again the next in the order of merit.

    Immediately below Marcos Freitas climbs one place to no.8, changing positions with China’s Fang Fo; next on the list is Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan who changes places with Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus. Korea’s Jung Youngsik completes the top 12 moving two positions from his previous career high of no.14 one month ago.

    The upward trend for Jung Youngsik, it is the opposite for Japan’s Koki Niwa formerly at no.12, is now at no.14.