For her triumph at the ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Agadir, Morocco, Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike has returned to the elite position in the latest ITTF African ranking as the African champion is now rated second in the continent.
In the ranking released at the weekend by the technical chairman of ITTF Africa, Mokhtar Toukabri, Egypt’s Omar Assar remains the best male player in the continent after his 4-3 victory over Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri in the final of the ITTF Africa Senior Championship.
However, Aruna Quadri has closed up the point gap with Assar as six points separated the two best players in Africa.
Also, seven-time Olympian, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola has moved to the fourth place in Africa despite losing in the quarter-final at the Morocco tournament to Omar Assar.
Despite losing to 2-4 to Oshonaike in Morocco, Egypt’s Dina Meshref is still the best in Africa with 251 points while Oshonaike has 199 points to beat Egypt’s recuperating Nadeen El-Dawlatly to second place in the ranking list.
Algeria’s made its presence felt in the ranking list as Lynda Loghraibi has moved to fourth place in the women ranking list.
Tag: ITTF Africa Senior Championship
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ITTF Africa Ranking: Oshonaike is second best in Africa
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NTTF National Championships: Singles event serves off as tournament hots up
As the singles event of the ongoing Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championship begins today, the tournament has continued to throw up surprises in the team events.
Already winners have emerged in the team events with focus shifting to the singles as players are eyeing the star prize of N200, 000 jackpot for the singles champions.
Also, the knockout stage of the para event began yesterday with former Paralympians aiming for the coveted trophy as well as the juicy prize money at stake.
Number one seed in the class 6-10 of the para event, Faith Obiora believes she would be unstoppable having featured at the last Rio Paralympic Games.
Also, Nick Chinedu is sure that his ambition of becoming the number para star in the men’s class 6-10 is coming close to reality.
For former national junior champion, Nurudeen Hassan, his aim is to prove his mettle against other top players.
“I am in this competition to show what I can do particularly having being part of the team to the last ITTF Africa Senior Championship held in Agadir, Morocco. The experience I garnered while playing alongside Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola as well as Bode Abiodun. It is going to be a tall order for me but I am confident that I can be the champion in the men’s singles. I am also fascinated with how the best players across the country are competing in this championship and I just hope we can have more of this in 2017,” Hassan said. -
Quadri gets nomination for 2016 ITTF Star Awards
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.
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Aruna succumbs to Egypt’s Assar in men’s singles final
Despite moving steps ahead in his quest to become African champion, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri on Monday fell to the superiority of Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s singles final of ITTF Africa Senior Championship held in Agadir, Morocco.
From the start of the match, the fans were not disappointed with the display by the two best players in Africa with the powerful shot of Aruna Quadri thrilling the fans, while Omar Assar was also up to the task against the Nigerian.
It was the Egyptian who drew the first blood with 12-10 win. But Aruna Quadri restored parity with 11-6 win.
The quality of the match gave the spectators something to cheer but it was Omar Assar that carried the day with a 4-3 (10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9) win to retain his title.
An elated Omar Assar told NationSport after the match: “It was really a crazy match because against Aruna is always very exciting. I think I gave my 100 per cent concentration and I listened more to my coach, Helmy Ashraf. I think Aruna played very well because he was always changing service and he was more aggressive on his forehand. I am so happy retaining the title and I hope I can play better than this in a future tournament,” Assar said.