This year will go into memory lane for table tennis family in Africa and Nigeria. It is a year that is characterised by a lot of highs particularly with the feat achieved by Aruna Quadri at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
For Quadri, the year started on a good note after the Oyo State-born athlete claimed the Africa Top 16 Cup in Khartoum, Sudan, at the expense of his continental rival – Egypt’s Omar Assar. But the icing on the cake for the 2014 ITTF Star Player was the quarterfinal berth in the men’s singles event of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as the Nigerian became the first African to set such an enviable record. However, 2016 also ended on a joyous note for Quadri as his family increased to five with the arrival of his third child – Amira –a few weeks ago. OLALEKAN OKUSAN here looks at the professional heights Quadri attained in 2016 to become to the world’s number 25th ranked player as well as the hearty joy of fathering another child.
IN the last three years, table tennis has continued to gain momentum in Nigeria and Africa and this resurgence was made possible by the singular effort of 28-year-old Aruna Quadri, whose dedication and hard work have continued to put Nigeria and Africa on the world map. From his humble start in the ancient town of Oyo, Southwest Nigeria, Quadri played his way into the senior national team when he represented Nigeria at the 2007 ITTF World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia. Unlike others who started their sojourn as junior players, Quadri never played any major international competition for Nigeria as a junior player but his inclusion in the national team was made possible through his singular effort.
For many national handlers, Quadri is coaches’ delight due to his passion and hard work in the table tennis trade. He was aware of the task he would face to cement his place in the national team, and he was never deterred by the odds as he continued to hone his skills even to the extent of playing in [THE] Iranian league.
When he defied all odds to become the continental flagbearer for the 2009 ITTF Men’s World Cup in Moscow, Russia, many were surprised by the emergence of the budding star. With determination, Quadri attended the competition amidst the array of stars and despite not making it beyond the first round, he showed the world what he was capable of doing.
It was at the same competition that his raw talent attracted a Germany-based kit manufacturing firm – Joola – and the company decided to sign-up the unknown Nigerian in 2010, who was just ranked among the top 400 in the world at the time.
Like a golden fish which has no hiding place, Quadri caught the eye of club sides in Europe after his impressive outing in Russia and he decided to pitch his tent with a top club in the Portuguese table tennis league – AR Novelense – in 2010. In his first season in Europe, he gave a stint of what he was capable of when he guided the team to second place in the league. But it was in the second season that he announced himself in Portugal when he was unbeaten throughout the season to lead AR Novelense to their first major title in Portugal with the team winning the league, super cup and playing in the European League championships, while he was named the best player of the season.
In order to play in a competitive team, Quadri was snapped up by another Portuguese club, GD Toledos, and for two seasons, the team ruled the league in Portugal at the expense of a billionaire team like Sporting Lisbon.
With tempting offers across Europe once again, Quadri became the superstar. But after carefully studying all the teams, he decided to team up with Sporting Lisbon, a team that continued to dominate the scene in Portugal.
The immense support from the then Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Sports and now President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, fired up Quadri to aim high on international platform. After qualifying as the continent flagbearer to the 2014 ITTF World Cup, the Oyo State-born star grabbed as the world stood still for him in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Unseeded and never considered a threat to other top players, Quadri proved bookmakers wrong when he stunned some of the world’s top-rated players to make it to the quarterfinal of the championship amidst global applause. It was at same competition he endeared himself to the heart of the Germans who gave a standing ovation to the Nigerian despite the fact that he lost in the quarterfinal stage to eventual champion, China’s Zhan Jike.
Every action of Quadri in the championship was greeted with applause by the German fans and he became the media’s delight as the first player from Sub-Sahara Africa to play in the quarterfinal stage of the ITTF World Cup. It was this singular performance that practically earned him double awards at the 2014 ITTF Star Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he was named the 2014 Star Player of the Year as the first non-Asian to win the gong.
The following year, 2015, was a low point for Quadri as his world ranking plummeted from 30th to 60th. Despite the seemingly loss of form, his efforts earned Nigeria the men’s team gold medal against the mighty Egyptian side at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville.
Spurred by the 2015 disappointment, Quadri started 2016 with a bang when he beat his arch-rival – Egypt’s Omar Assar – to the title at the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Khartoum, Sudan, to qualify for the 2016 ITTF World Cup.
Despite the poor preparation that characterised Team Nigeria for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Quadri never bothered himself about this setback but focused on his training and when the Rio Olympic Games began in Brazil, nothing good was expected from the table tennis team which has Africa’s record breaker, Segun Toriola, who was attending his seventh Olympic Games as the first African to achieve such feat in any sport.
Being his second Olympic Games appearance, Quadri announced himself to the world with his extra-ordinary performance in Brazil when he conquered one of the men’s singles gold medal favourites and former world number one – Germany’s Timo Boll – to berth in the quarterfinal of the games as the first African. His good run met a strong opposition in China’s Ma Long who ended the dream of the Nigerian in the last eight of the championship. Ma Long went on to clinch the gold medal for China in the event.
Away from the sport, Quadri has established himself as a loving husband and father. His love for his family cannot be questioned and with the arrival of his third child a few weeks ago, the African star has increased his family number to five this year.
Explaining his life-changing experience, Quadri said: “It feels so great and good having third new born baby, it was not an easy process but I thank God for safe delivery. I must confess that it’s more responsibility.”
Indeed, responsibility is a big factor in Quadri’s life. He is one of the most successful table tennis players from Nigeria with a current world ranking of no.25. This, coupled with the responsibility of being a father, is undoubtedly something that he has managed brilliantly over the last few years.
Quadri explained, “To be a father means total responsibility. After I had my first child, my life changed positively and I started to get more responsible than before. Being a father gives special happiness and it’s one of the best things in life. Taking care of children has never been easy and one just has to take it as an important responsibility.”
As a professional player, Quadri has been an incredible support for his family. He has been successfully managing the dual responsibility of fatherhood and being one of the top table tennis players in the world. However he admitted, “I must confess that being a father combining with training, playing matches and travelling around the world have not been very easy. I must thank my beautiful wife for great understanding. The reason these things get easy for me is because my wife has a good understanding and she is also a table tennis player. Without my wife’s support, things won’t be easy as this. She does more than what is expected from her and thus takes care of kids in a great way. My wife is like a mother to me and she really means a lot to me.”
In readiness for the future, the couple has obtained a First Degree Certificate through an online course at the Atlantic International University in the USA.
At this point, the Nigerian seems to have a magic wand in his hand with successfully managing so many responsibilities, and that makes him a complete person.
Quadri on being first among equals
I might be the best African player in terms of ranking but I really don’t see myself as the best player on the continent, but I strongly believe that I am one of the best in Africa. I will keep working harder and harder and if I get support and sponsors, I can easily maintain my status as the best player in Africa – as the best-ranked player in Africa
Quadri purrs on seemingly lack of support
I must also say that Nigeria is not worth dying for in sports because support, motivation and encouragement of athletes are not always the administrators and government priority. But whenever you remember how your fans are praying, supporting and cheering you in your home country, I can conclude that the country is worth dying for.
Quadri singled out Oshodi for special praise
Also, when you also think of how some good administrators support athletes and take athletes welfare as their major priority, you can also say that Nigeria is worth dying for in sports and a good example of this sports administrator in Nigeria is the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi. I can boldly say that Barrister Wahid Oshodi brought me to the top from nowhere. He supported me in all areas of my career and despite his unlimited support, the biggest challenge has always been that I have to compensate him with good results.
Quadri on the rough road to the top
The journey to the top in every area of life has always been very hard, tough and difficult because at the earlier stage of my career, the biggest problem was how to get equipment, feeding and transportation. I must also confess that it has not been very easy at all. Sometimes you get tired in practice because you have no support from your government, and even sometimes you get tired because despite your hard work, the results are not forthcoming. But I always have it on my mind that my hard work will definitely paid off.
Quadri waxes philosophically about the potentialities in Africa
My performance in Rio will surely boost the confidence level of many African players to do so much better in future. I strongly believe that there will be rapid improvement in Africa soon and more talents will come through on the continent. We have great talents almost everywhere in Africa and very soon we will all see them.
Quadri basks in the euphoria of Rio 2016
I went to Rio just to enjoy myself because I knew the qualities of players that qualified for the games. But after the victory against the world number seven, Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, my mind was totally free that Germany’s Timo Boll will also fall if I confronted him in the fourth round. I had to play the German the same way I played against Chuang Chih-Yuan and this boosted my confidence throughout the competition. So, I felt great after the matches because playing against these world class players was like a dream come true. I was actually looking up to some of these players, particularly whenever I am watching their videos.
Apart from the Chinese, all other participants had 50–50 chances against one another and for that reason I was a bit relaxed and started playing without pressure. Also, I had it in my mind that I was not in Rio just to add to the number of participants but to make an impact. I must also say that my qualification to the quarter-final stage was as a result of my hard work and the success just came at the right time of my birthday.
Quadri on what lies in store
I strongly believe I have the potential but I was not expecting to have qualified for quarter-final at the Rio Olympics and I was optimistic but it was not going to be easy.
I am so much happy with my performance and also satisfy with my efforts in Brazil. I never thought I would go far but with God on my side I made my mark. I think the quarterfinal match against Ma Long was very tough because my opponent did not give any breathing space at all. I couldn’t play my style as he was forcing me to play his style. I could not make use of my forehand very well and he was too aggressive. I think he deserved the victory. But there is always another time for us to meet and I hope this defeat has taught me another lesson in my career.
