The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ITTF World Tour

  • Nigerian star battles Chinese sensation

    Aruna Quadri stunned one of the most decorated Japanese stars in table tennis to reach the semfinal round of the ITTF World Tour tagged Bulgaria Open.

    Being the last quarterfinal match in the men’s singles, the Bulgaria fans were treated to an exciting moment as there was an unbelievable scenes in Panagyurishte after the Nigerian hero knocks Japanese no.4 seed Jun Mizutani in a seven-game thriller.

    The 2019 Nigeria Open champion expressed appreciation to the Bulgarian fans for their unrelenting support during the encounter.

    Trailing 1-2 on games but Aruna Quadri is well known for his comebacks and his fighting spirit shone through on this occasion, saving two game points in game four before going on to recover from 4-9 down to win game five 11-9.

    Mizutani responded well to claim game six, forcing a decider: 9-6 down Mizutani refused to give up the fight, going on to hold two match point opportunities.

    However, Aruna Quadri showed nerves of steel, saving both points before going on to steal the win (8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11).

    In earlier quarterfinal tie, Portuguese qualifier Marcos Freitas is through to the last four in Panagyurishte thanks to a fantastic victory over no.15 seed Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan.

    At the start of play it was the Chinese Taipei player who looked good for the win, claiming the opening game by an eight point margin but Freitas also enjoyed his spells of dominance over the course of the match.

    Ultimately it was game seven that produced the main story: 6-7 down Freitas opted to call a timeout, a decision that proved useful as the Portuguese star fought back to win the decider 11-9 and earn his spot in the penultimate round (3-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-13, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9).

    Japanese teenage sensation Tomokazu Harimoto takes his place in the semi-finals of the men’s singles draw following a tight affair with fellow Japanese compatriot Takuya Jin.

    Down 3-0 on the scoreboard Jin needed to form a response and one did arrive with the qualifier pulling a game back. Then in game five Jin held game point advantage on two occasions but failed to convert as top seed

    Harimoto held his nerve, sealing the win by a 4-1 margin (11-7, 11-6, 14-12, 7-11, 13-11).

    German Dimitrij Ovtcharov’s men’s singles run has concluded in the quarter-finals stage in Panagyurishte after the second seed lost out to world no.110 China’s Zhao Zihao in an exciting battle.

    The 22-year-old pen-hold grip player from China started strongly and deservedly gained a healthy 2-0 lead.

    Up against the ropes Ovtcharov raised his performance, winning two of the next three games to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

    In game six the two players gave it their all but there could only be one winner and that proved to be Zhao Zihao (11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9).

    In the semifinal tie scheduled for Sunday August 18, Aruna Quadri will face China’s Zhao Zihao, while Portugal’s Marcos Freitas will take on Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto.

     

     

  • Early exit for Quadri, Omotayo at Qatar Open

    It was not a good outing for Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo at the ITTF World Tour tagged Qatar Open as the duo were shown early exits in the men’s singles event of the championship.

    It was Omotayo that first tasted the defeat in the hand of the Oman Open champion – Lin Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei.

    Despite matching the Asian star strength-for-strength from the start of the encounter, Omotayo succumbed to the prowess of his opponent. Omotayo lost 8-11, 6-11, 6-11, 5-11.

    Also, Quadri was on the losing end against Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro.

    Having just returned from injury, Quadri was taken beyond the limit by the Brazilian who won the encounter at 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 10-12, 6-11.

    Meanwhile, former champion – Belarus’ Vladimir Samsonov has withdrawn from the tournament.

    The 42-year-old reported a sprained left ankle after taking part in the ETTU Champions League earlier this month and will now miss the Qatar Open, which he had won twice so far in his career (in 2003 and 2015).

    Having managed to cancel his participation ahead of deadline, there will be no sanction for Samsonov.

    Restricted movement in his left ankle joint means that the Belarusian legend has been forecast limited physical activity for 10-14 days, as he bids to be back fit in time for the World Championships in Budapest between 21-28 April.

  • Quadri, others know fate today in latest ITTF ranking

    Quadri, others know fate today in latest ITTF ranking

    There may be possible tilting in the top 30 when the February ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is released today by the world table tennis ruling body with Aruna Quadri and other Nigerians hoping for an improvement in their world rating.
    For his performance at the last Hungarian Open where made it to the quarter-final stage, there are strong indications that Aruna Quadri will rise above 25th in the world, while Italy-based Olajide Omotayo who managed to record a victory in his matches at the Hungarian Open may also benefit in the latest ranking.
    25th in the world being the highest to have been achieved by an African,  Quadri may be hoping to etch another landmark with the possibility of shifting the goal post for other African players to aim at when the ranking is made public today in Switzerland.
    Unlike Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo, the trio of Bode Abiodun, Ojo Onaolapo and Kazeem Makanjuola may be on the receiving ends following their below-par performance at the Hungarian Open as they all suffered defeats in all their matches.
    Quadri’s doubles partner for this year’s ITTF World Tour – Egypt’s Omar Assar may not really benefit from the ranking after not being able to advance beyond the main draw of the Hungarian Open despite being seeded number 15 in the men’s singles of the competition.
  • Aruna Quadri may set new world table tennis record

    Aruna Quadri may set new world table tennis record

    Record setting Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri is inching closer to inking another feat when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) releases the February 2017 ranking.

    In 2016, Quadri set unprecedented records after becoming the first African to qualify for the quarterfinal stage of the men’s singles of table tennis event of the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil as well as the only table tennis player from the continent to be ranked 25th in the ITTF world ranking.

    However, a new record may be in the offing for the Oyo State-born athlete in 2017 after his exceptional performance at the just concluded ITTF World Tour tagged Hungarian Open where his quarterfinal berth may have earned him some crucial ranking points that will push his ranking up the ladder when the February rating is released next week by the world table tennis ruling body.

    Seeded number nine in the men’s singles of the Hungarian Open, Quadri beat two of the world’s best from Germany and the Czech Republic to become the only African to ever made it far in the history of the Hungarian Open.

    Having started the year as world’s number 25th, Quadri’s imminent rise will be officially confirmed on February 1 with the expected new ranking for February.

    Meanwhile, the 2014 ITTF Star Player will lead his French club – Jura Morez against Villeneuve, which has French internationals Adrien Mattenet, Antoine Hachard and Stéphane Ouaiche in the elite French league on January 21.

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  • Quadri dazzles to finish in top eight at Hungarian Open

    Quadri dazzles to finish in top eight at Hungarian Open

     

     

    Being the first ITTF World Tour for this year, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri lived up to his world rating at the Hungarian Open as the 2014 ITTF Star Player shone like a star to finish among the top eight in the men’s singles event of the championship.

     

    Quadri, who was seeded ninth in the men’s singles made his presence felt in the competition when he started his campaign from the main draw with a superb 4-2 win over Germany’s Steffen Mengel.

     

    However, he faced his biggest test in the round of 16 against Czech Republic’s Tomas Konecny. Without any doubt, Quadri was forced to use all his hidden skills by the Czech. From the start of the encounter, the European knew that beating the Africa’s highest ranked player meant a lot to his career and he was determined to break the heart of the African fans at the venue. But like a typical Nigerian, Quadri dug deep despite the dominance of his opponent in the first three games. It was as if the Czech was going to carry the day, but Quadri thrice restored parity to put the match at 3-3. But Quadri’s powerful forehand did the magic when it mattered as he overcame the Czech in the seventh game to win at 4-3 (8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).

     

    For making the last eight, Quadri joined the league of elite players like Belarus’ Samsonov Vladimir, France’s Simon Gauzy and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.

     

    In the quarterfinal against another German – Ruwen Filus and without any coach, Quadri excited the fans with his unique style of play against the defensive German.

     

    From 3-1 down, Quadri recovered to put the match at 3-3 and even when the coach was clear for the Nigerian to claim the victory with 9-6, his forehand failed him as he was made the kiss the canvass at  12-10 to hand the victory to the European star.

     

    Describing the manner Quadri missed the chance to claim the victory, ITTF Publication Editor, Ian Marshall said: “It appeared Aruna Quadri may succeed; after trailing by three games to one, he leveled at three-all. In the seventh he led 9-6, he lost the next point but at 9-7, he had the service; the odds were in his favour but he was not able to convert the advantage. Ruwen Filus (11-9, 14-12, 2-11, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 12-10).”

     

    A disappointed Quadri said after match, “I was fighting as hard as I could; recovering from three-one down. I changed things around going to 9-6 in the last game. I did not seize my chances today .It was not meant to be.”

     

     

     

    For being among the top eight players in the men’s singles event of the first ITTF World Tour in 2017, Quadri has garnered some points for his qualification to the end-of-the-year World Tour Grand Finals.

     

    Meanwhile, Quadri’s partnership with Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s doubles may have picked some points from the Hungarian Open after playing from the qualifying round to make it to the main draw where they eventual lost to the Chinese finalists.

  • 2020 Olympic Games: Quadri kicks off preparation with Austrian Open

    2020 Olympic Games: Quadri kicks off preparation with Austrian Open

    After helping his club – Jura Morez to claim their second victory in the four weeks old French Table Tennis League, Aruna Quadri will begins his preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at the ITTF World Tour tagged Austrian Open holding in Linz.

    Quadri, a quarterfinalist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was instrumental to Jura Morez’s 3-1 win over Pontoise-Cergy on Monday and from tomorrow he will campaigning from the main draw after being seeded number six in the men’s singles.

    Also, Aruna Quadri will also be partnering his continental rival – Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s doubles event as the duo will start their campaign from the preliminary round to be sure of a place in the main draw of the doubles event.

    A determined Aruna Quadri told NationSport that he was aware of the quality of players that will be attending the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and he had started his preparation with the ITTF World Tour.

    “I must continue to play at top level to be able to compete very well with the best at the 2020 Olympic Games. For now, I have not set target for myself but I just want to ensure I compete with the best and being a major event in the ITTF World Tour calendar, the Austrian Open serves as my launching pad for the 2020 Olympic Games,” Quadri said.

  • Olympics: My confidence is growing – Quadri

    Olympics: My confidence is growing – Quadri

    After his superlative performance in the third round of the men’s singles of the table tennis event at Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Aruna Quadri has admitted that the win against Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan has grown his confidence in playing the next match.

    Quadri, who earlier this year was beating black and blue by the Asian star at the German Open said he is focused on his next encounter against Germany’s Timo Boll.

    “I am growing in confidence because the last time I played Chuang Chih-Yuan was earlier this year on the ITTF World Tour in Germany, I lost in four straight games, my goal today was to improve on that performance and fight to win one game!”

    “After I won the first game I became more confident. It is so hard playing Chuang Chih-Yuan, he is so consistent, he keeps putting the ball on the table, you must try to be positive against him and put him under pressure. Also, he was clever with his services, he changes short and long. In the first game I made mistakes returning service. Today he was below his best, he did not play well,” Quadri added.

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  • Abiodun returns to ITTF World Tour in Poland

    After his scintillating performance at the 2016 World Team Championship in Malaysia, Portugal-based Bode Abiodun will today returns to action as he competes at the ITTF World Tour tagged Polish Open.

    Abiodun who is likely to make the Nigeria’s men team to the Rio Olympic Games has been pitched against Panama’s Alberto Gorgona and Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin in Group 31 of the preliminary round of the men’s singles event. Abiodun, who is ranked 185 in the World, will battle the Russian, who is rated higher than the Nigerian.

    Abiodun’s first game will be against the Panama boy while his last encounter in the group holds tomorrow against the highly-rated Russian. One player is expected to progress to the knockout stage of the singles event.

    Also, another African team – Egypt has a six-man team taking part in the five-day tournament holding in Warsaw.

    Omar Assar is leading the team to the tournament and he has been listed among the seeded players for the competition while his sibling, Khalid will be campaigning from the preliminary stage.

    Also in the North African team are African U-21 champion, Shady Magdy as well as Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Galila Nasser.

    Meanwhile, Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa is the top seed followed immediately by her compatriot, Ai Fukuhara, with Mima Ito being the No. 4 seed; notably both Kasumi Ishikawa and Ai Fukuhara have each won five ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles titles, Mima Ito has two such successes against her name.

    However, there are four former ITTF World Tour Polish Open Women’s Singles winners on duty in Warsaw. 
    Feng Tianwei who emerged successful in all Singaporean final in 2008, when she beat Wang Yuegu is on duty, as is Li Jiao of the Netherlands and Korea’s Seo Hyowon.

    Li Jiao won in 2010 when she accounted for Spain’s Shen Yanfei in the final; more recently in 2013, Seo Hyowon emerged successful beating for China’s Sheng Dandan in the title deciding contest.

    At the 2016 ITTF World Tour Polish Open, Feng Tianwei is the no.3 seed, Seo Hyowon is the no.6 seed, and Li Jiao is the no.13 seed.

  • 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.

    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 a good outing just like they got to the quarter-final at the Hungarian Open in Budapest.

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

    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.

  • 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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