Tag: Quadri Aruna

From October 12 to 19, the city of Tunis, Tunisia, will reverberate with the energy and talent of Africa’s finest table tennis players as the 2025 ITTF-Africa Championships get underway. Athletes from across the continent—East, West, North, Central, and South—have converged on the Tunisian capital, all vying for glory and coveted qualification spots for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom.

While Nigeria’s top-ranked Quadri Aruna is notably absent, the tournament still boasts a star-studded lineup including Egypt’s Omar Assar, Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa, Tunisia’s Wassim Essid, Egypt’s Hana Goda, Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo, and France-based Abdel-Kader Salifou.

From the leadership of the Tunisia Table Tennis Federation (TTTF) to the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), the spirit of the event is one of celebration and unity.

TTTF President Samir Khelif expressed pride in hosting the prestigious event: “We’re honoured to be chosen once again to host this championship and deeply appreciate the trust of ITTF Africa. As always, we aim to provide warm hospitality and a vibrant atmosphere for all our guests.”

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ITTF Africa President Wahid Oshodi also praised Tunisia’s swift response in stepping up after Rwanda’s withdrawal: “We’re immensely grateful to the people of Tunisia for their unwavering support. Their readiness to host on short notice speaks volumes about their commitment to the sport. This championship is all about the players, and Tunisia has created the perfect environment for them to shine.”

With youthful energy and national pride fuelling their ambitions, Tunisia’s rising stars are ready to take on Africa’s best and prove they belong on the big stage.

Leading the charge are 14-year-old Ela Saidi and 17-year-old Wassim Essid, key members of the Tunisian team competing at the eight-day tournament taking place at the Rades Multi-Purpose Hall in Tunis from October 12 to 19.

Making her debut at the prestigious event, Saidi described the opportunity to play alongside her idols as a dream come true. “I’m so happy to be competing in my first African Championships, especially sharing the stage with stars like Hana Goda and Omar Assar,” she said.

 “It’s a huge honour, and I’ll give my best and perform to the highest level I can. Most importantly, I want to use this experience to grow as a player — facing top opponents will help me improve.”

Essid, fresh off his victory in the boys’ U-17 singles at the WTT Youth Contender Tunis, sees the tournament as another chance to challenge the continent’s elite.

 “I’m not going to relax — playing at home means I’ll have the support of the crowd, and I’ll give my best as always,” he said.

“It’s a big opportunity for Tunisia to host this event, and I hope we exceed expectations and make our country proud. We’d love to be part of the journey to London in 2026 through the team event.”

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna got off to a flying start at the WTT Champions Macao 2025, overpowering China’s Huang Youzheng in straight games to secure a place in the men’s singles round of 16.

According to BSNSports.com.ng reports, the world number 26, who has struggled for consistency in recent months, looked revitalized at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, sweeping aside the wildcard entrant 11-3, 11-8, 11-8.

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Aruna registered 33 points in total, with 19 coming on his serve and 14 on his opponent’s, compared to Huang’s 19 overall.

The victory sets up a round of 16 tie for the Nigerian star against the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between Germany’s Patrick Franziska and sixth seed Xiang Peng of China.

By Joshua Osinowo

Nigeria’s table tennis icon Quadri Aruna has retained his crown as Africa’s top-ranked player, even as he slipped three places to 26th in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings released on Tuesday.

Aruna, Africa’s most decorated player on the world stage, holds 1,185 ranking points, keeping him well clear of long-time rival Omar Assar of Egypt, who sits 33^rd  with 930 points.

Despite suffering a round of 64 exit to Assar at the WTT Europe Smash in Sweden last week, Aruna’s consistency over the past year has anchored his position. ITTF’s ranking system, based on a rolling 12-month cycle, has rewarded his steady performances across top tournaments.

His current haul includes 350 points from finishing runner-up at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis, 210 points from a semi-final run at the WTT Star Contender in Doha, and 175 points from reaching the round of 16 at this year’s ITTF World Championships.

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However, with many of these results set to expire, the pressure is mounting on the Nigerian to produce fresh deep runs. His upcoming ITTF appearances will prove decisive in determining whether he can hold onto both his continental dominance and his place among the world’s elite.

Beyond Aruna, Nigeria’s other top male players endured further ranking declines: Matthew Kuti dropped four places to 200^th  (89 points), Abdulbasit Abdulfatai fell three spots to 206^th  (81 points).

Former African Games champion Olajide Omotayo slid six places to 212^th , and Rising star Taiwo Mati slipped to 221^st . The lone bright spot was Muizz Adegoke, who rose two positions to 232^nd  .

In the women’s category, Fatimo Bello remains the country’s No. 1 female player at 122^nd  (189 points), while Ajoke Ojomu fell to 158^th , fast-rising Aminat Fashola dropped to 186^th and Sukurat Aiyelabegan slid to 211^th .

Nigeria’s top table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, has voiced his concerns over financial difficulties being faced by professional ‘ping-pongers’, stating that the earnings currently  accruable  from featuring in major international  champions  is nothing to write home about.

Aruna, who made history as the first African to be ranked in the World’s  Top 10 and represented Nigeria at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Summer Olympics reaching the quarter-finals in 2016 , shared the economic challenges athletes endure despite competing at elite levels.

 “Back in the day during the Challenge Series, Challenge Plus, and Super Series, the prize money wasn’t much, but we didn’t play as many tournaments, so the costs were lower,” Aruna explained. “Now, it’s extremely expensive. You could start from the group stage, get to the semi-finals, and still end up with nothing,” lamented the 366-year-old star.

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He stressed that players often bear the brunt of unpredictable match schedules and constant travel, which leads to mounting expenses.

He continued: “You may have to change your flight more than twice and pay for extra nights at the hotel. In the end, you’ve taken a huge risk and still come out with nothing.”

Citing a recent example from China, Aruna elaborated:  “Let’s say you earn $8,000 for losing in the first round. After 20% tax is deducted, and you’ve spent about €1,600 on flights because you don’t know your match day in advance and can’t book a round-trip you may end up spending even more. Eventually, you’re left with about €3,000 or even less.”

He added: “You win money, pay tax, reinvest it into your next event and in the end, your balance is zero. Does that really make any sense? Everything may look glamorous from the outside, but the truth is, nobody is really making money.”

Despite these financial hardships, Aruna remains a trailblazer for African table tennis. In 2018, he was recognized by the Olympic Channel as Africa’s most successful Olympic table tennis player of all time.

Africa’s Quadri Aruna and South America’s Hugo Calderano will expectedly  reignited  their long-standing rivalry at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha.

The two stars are set to clash in the fourth round of the Men’s Singles today , May 22^nd , at the Lusail Arena.

Aruna and Calderano are widely regarded as icons of table tennis in their respective regions. Their relentless spirit and global achievements have earned them legendary status.

Both made history as the first players from Africa and South America to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games at Rio 2016, and each has claimed multiple continental titles and broken into the world’s top 10 rankings.

Currently, Calderano is enjoying the best form of his career. He recently captured the 2025 ITTF World Cup title in Macao, defeating world No. 1 Li Shidong and No. 2 Wang Chuqin of China—becoming the first South American to win the prestigious trophy.

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Aruna’s path to the fourth round in Doha has been equally impressive. He opened with a commanding 4-0 win over Calderano’s compatriot Victor Ishiy, followed by a thrilling 4-2 victory against Norwegian left-hander Borgar Haug. In the third round, he continued his fine form by overcoming Germany’s Benedikt Duda 4-2.

Calderano, the world No. 3, has also been in top shape. He began with a 4-1 win over Mexico’s Rogelio Castro, then delivered a clinical 4-0 performance against Tunisia’s Wassim Essid, the 2024 African Youth Champion. However, he faced a stern test in the third round against Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko. After falling behind 0-2, Calderano adjusted his tactics and rallied to win 4-2, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown with Aruna.

 “Aruna is a very strong player,” Calderano said ahead of today’s showdown. “He’s been in the top 10 before, and everyone knows what he’s capable of. I’m ready for a big fight—he’s a fighter too—so it’s going to be very exciting.”

Quadri Aruna underlined his elite status at the 2025 ITTF World Championships with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Germany’s Benedikt Duda, securing his place in the fourth round of the Men’s Singles at the Lusail Hall in Doha, Qatar.

The Nigerian star, now the sole African contender in the Men’s Singles following the exit of Egypt’s Omar Assar in the second round on Monday, delivered a commanding performance against the left-handed German.

In spite of trailing 1-2 in their previous head-to-head encounters, Aruna rose to the occasion in a match filled with fast-paced rallies and crowd-pleasing exchanges.

He opened strongly, taking the first set 11-9, but Duda responded with a dominant 11-4 win in the second. Aruna adjusted his tactics in the third set, targeting Duda’s forehand and regaining control with an 11-8 win.

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A controversial service fault call at 2-2 in the fourth set appeared to rattle the Nigerian, who dropped the game 11-2.

However, Aruna showcased remarkable composure and resilience in the fifth set.

Trailing 3-9, he mounted a stunning comeback to level at 9-9, and eventually clinched the set 12-10. That hopes carried into the sixth, where Aruna’s confidence soared.

With powerful forehand loops and precise shot placement, he closed out the match 11-9 to seal a 4-2 victory.

The 2025 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships finals are currently underway in Doha, Qatar, running from May 17 to May 25.

This prestigious event, marking its 58^th  edition, features top players from around the globe competing in five categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.

640 players from 127 member associations are participating in the nine-day championships.

With grit and grace, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has kept Africa’s hopes alive at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar as he romped into the third round of the Men’s Singles event.

Cheered on by the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, Aruna faced one of his toughest challenges yet at Qatar University against Norway’s Borgar Haug. Although the Norwegian ranks significantly lower than Aruna, the match proved that table tennis is not played on paper. The thrilling contest showcased high-level skills, with both players fighting for every point.

Aruna started strong, taking the first set 11-7, but Haug bounced back with a dominant 11-3 win in the second. The Nigerian reclaimed the lead with an 11-8 win in the third set, only for Haug to level the match again by taking the fourth 11-8.

Both players displayed a variety of techniques throughout the match, but Aruna gained a crucial edge through his powerful serves, which Haug often struggled to return. The Nigerian regained control with an 11-7 win in the fifth set.

The sixth set turned out to be the climax of the match. Aruna led 9-7, but Haug responded with two sharp points to tie it at 9-9. Aruna moved ahead to 10-9, needing one more point to seal the match, but the Norwegian equalized once more at 10-10. With composure and experience, Aruna won the next two points, clinching the set 12-10 and the match 4-2, becoming the only remaining African male player in the Men’s Singles event.

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At the adjacent table, Egypt’s Omar Assar narrowly lost to Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in a tight 4-3 battle (11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12), bowing out in the second round.

Meanwhile, the fairy-tale run of Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana ended in the second round of the Women’s Singles. The 22-year-old was defeated 4-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4) by Germany’s Sabine Winter.

In the Mixed Doubles, Africa experienced mixed fortunes. Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo and Kabirat Ayoola were eliminated in the second round by South Korean opponents. However, Egypt’s Youssef Abdelaziz and Mariam Alhodaby advanced to the third round with an impressive 3-1 win over their Italian counterparts.

Aruna will face a familiar opponent, Benedict Duda of Germany, in the third round tomorrow  as he continues his inspiring run in Doha.

Africa’s top-ranked table tennis players, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Hana Goda, are set to discover their opponents for the 2025 ITTF World Championships. The official draw will take place today, April 30, as the world’s elite players gather in Doha, Qatar, from May 17 to 25.

Aruna, ranked 20^th  in the Men’s singles, and Goda, ranked 27^th  in the women’s singles, will lead the African contingent at the tournament.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has decided to use the Week 18 World Rankings, published on April 29, as the basis for seeding the players.

With less than 19 days to go until the highly anticipated ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha, excitement is building. The draw ceremony is a pivotal moment for players, as it determines their path in this prestigious tournament.

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The latest ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking Lists, released yesterday, April 29,  will set the seeding for all events. Players and fans are closely monitoring these rankings, which will shape the competitive landscape of the tournament.

The World Championships will feature five individual events: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, all played in a straight knockout format.

In the singles events, 32 players will be seeded and placed into predetermined positions, while the remaining competitors will be randomly drawn into the 96 available spots to complete the 128-player bracket. For the doubles events, 16 pairs will be seeded, with the remaining pairs randomly drawn into the 48 available positions to complete the 64-pair bracket. All singles matches will be best-of-7 games, while doubles matches will be best-of-5 games.

The tournament will award gold medals to the winners, silver medals to the finalists, and bronze medals to the semi-finalists.

The ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals represent the pinnacle of individual achievement in the sport, bringing together the world’s best players in one of the most prestigious competitions on the table tennis calendar.

World’s  No. 2 Wang Chuqin of China has admitted it was  no mean feat  before he could  overcome Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna in the first round of the ongoing WTT Champions Chongqing 2025, adding he took tips  from  videos of the Nigerian against  some of his compatriots in the past.  

Despite facing each other for the first time in a competitive event, the match lived up to fans’ expectations, with Aruna putting up a strong performance against the Chinese superstar.

Chuqin, who was the runner-up at WTT Champions Chongqing last year, endured some tense moments in his first-ever clash with Aruna but ultimately secured a 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-7) victory. The former World No. 1 comfortably won the first game by a five-point margin but had to rally from a 5-9 deficit in the second game. The third game followed the script for Wang, who maintained his lead and closed out a well-deserved win. Aruna’s trademark forehand earned him five consecutive points, creating challenging moments for Chuqin. However, a timely timeout for Aruna shifted the momentum, allowing Chuqin to win the second game 13-11.

“I was thoroughly prepared for tough challenges,” Chuqin said.“ I watched videos of his previous matches, especially those where he defeated my teammates. Aruna has bested many excellent players, so even though I hadn’t played him before, he left a strong impression on me.

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“ With Coach Wang’s support, I was well-prepared for a difficult match. The match largely went as we anticipated, with our planned techniques and tactics.”

Regarding the second game, he added, “Initially, I aimed to suppress my opponent using my serves to create better rally opportunities. However, he adapted to my serves, making it difficult for me to deliver high-quality shots. I then decided to engage in a 50-50 rally and gradually turned the situation around.”

Acknowledging the significance of the win, Chuqin said: “Winning this first match against Aruna is a big boost for my upcoming matches. He’s a strong player with a unique style that challenges me. Overcoming the crucial second set built my confidence and helped me adapt to the venue.”

Meanwhile, the 2025 Africa Cup champion, Omar Assar , joined Aruna in exiting the tournament after losing 3-0 (3-11, 6-11, 8-11) to German penholder Dang Qui.

Dina Meshref was the first African to be eliminated, losing to South Korea’s Kim Nayeong 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11). Egypt’s Hana Goda will face 2023 WTT Contender Lagos champion Shin Yubin of South Korea in the first round of the Women’s Singles on Thursday, March 13.