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  • I want to rule Africa in 2015, Quadri insists

    I want to rule Africa in 2015, Quadri insists

    Havingmade an impression in the world in 2014, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has insisted that he wants to dominate the game in Africa in this New Year.

    The Portugal-based player told SportingLife yesterday that he hopes to start his reign with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championships holding from January 23 to 29 in Cairo, Egypt.

    “As a matter of fact, the men’s single title being held by Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin is still eluding me in Africa and winning it will make me fulfilled a little bit just like the way I am targeting the All Africa Games diadem held by Lashin’s compatriot, Omar Assar. This year winning individual titles will make me fully fulfilled in Africa and I know it is possible with hardwork,” Quadri said.

    “I never won the African championships individual event in my career and winning it will make me happy in January and I seriously believe it is achievable and God will help me as I am working harder for the war in Cairo,” he added.

    To dismiss the threat that may be posed by the host, Egypt in Cairo, the highest ranked African player in the world said: “As a member of Nigerian team, I am looking forward to a more better outing because Egypt has been ruling looking the continent for years now and our men and women’s team are looking forward to stop the Egyptians’ dominance. It is true and I seriously believe that the North Africans dominance is very possible to be stopped in January. I must admit that it is not going to be easy for any team to defeat them due to the players their team has but it’s very possible if our team has the needed support.”

    The ITTF World Cup quarterfinalist believes teams like Tunisia, Algeria and Congo Brazzaville are not pushovers as they are also major threats to Nigeria’s ambition.

    “We are all ready for the war in Cairo due to the fact that everyone knows what is at stake and we will all fight to retain our lost glory in Africa this time. Our federation has been working harder and this is the right time that we can compensate the great efforts of our federation president and his members.

    Just like we put smile on his face at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, we are all working harder as a team to make him the happiest man in January in Cairo and may God help us more than our expectation,” he promised.

    For 2015, Quadri hopes to feature in more Pro Tours with the aim of playing in the World Tour finals this year.

    On how he hopes to prepare for the tournament in Cairo, he said: “I think I will be well prepared for the tournament after the ITTF Star Award in Dubai. I am going straight to Porto to join my teammates and practice with them for two weeks just like I did before the ITTF World Cup.”

  • NTTF, Oyo SWAN name Quadri Athlete of the Year

    NTTF, Oyo SWAN name Quadri Athlete of the Year

    For his extra-ordinary performance this year, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and the Oyo State chapter of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) have named current African champion, Aruna Quadri as the Athlete of the Year.

    At a colourful award ceremony held at D’Rovans Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo SWAN’s decision to choose Quadri was prompted by the giant stride made by the 26-year-old both at local and international tournaments.

    Starting the year in the top 300 in the world, Quadri leaped to top 30 with his exceptional performance at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tours, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and World Cup.

    Starting 2014 with appearances at the Kuwait and Qatar Opens where he could not move beyond the first round, Quadri made his presence felt at the Spanish Open in Almeria where he caused upsets to make it to the round of 16. At the Czech Open, he defied all odds to make it to the quarterfinal stage.

    At home in Lagos, he played up to the last four of the Lagos World Tour where he was defeated by eventual champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar, but during the Africa Top 16 Cup, which was the qualifiers for the World Cup, Quadri played his best to emerge as champion and also picked the sole ticket to represent Africa at the World Cup.

    This performance earned him a leap to the top 73 in the world. But a few weeks after the Lagos triumph he was beaten in the round of 32 at the Belgian Open.

    In October, he attracted global attention when he stunned some of the world’s best to become the first African and black player to make it to the quarterfinal stage of the ITTF World Cup held in Dusseldorf, Germany.

    This outing in Germany fetched him the best ranking for an African player as he leaped to top 30 in the world.

    This has also made him the first non-Asian and European to be nominated in two categories of the second ITTF Star Awards.

    Also at the grand finale of the maiden NTTF President’s Cup held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Quadri was also named the Senior Player of the Year, while ageing Funke Oshonaike won the female award.

    Olasunkami Oginni and Ajoke Ojomu won the Junior Player of the Year, while Abayomi Animashaun and Muyibat Bello claimed the Cadet of the Year award.

    The Coach of the Year went to Olawale Ajetunmobi of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), while Opeoluwa Osoba is the Match Official of the Year.

  • Quadri gets Hong Kong foe in round of 16

    Quadri gets Hong Kong foe in round of 16

    As the ongoing ITTF World Cup enters the knockout stage today, Nigerian table tennis ace, Aruna Quadri has been paired against Tang Peng from Hong Kong, who is rated number 16 in the world. The game begins 12 noon local time.

    In the qualiying round played yesterday, Quadri defeated World number 37, Russia’s Alexander Shibaev in the last group match of the first round. He had earlier beaten Japan’s Matsudaira in the first game.

    From the start of the encounter, Quadri pinned back his Russian opponent and never gave him a chance as he won easily 11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 to confirm his place in the main draw.

    Quadri told NationSport after the match that he capitalised on his opponent’s mistakes to claim the victory.

    “I was a bit nervous early in the game, but when I discovered he was making some mistakes I had to capitalise on this to earn points. I knew I had to win the game because he lost to Japan’s Matsudaira in his first game. I just thought I would win 4-3, but when I discovered he was making some mistakes, I quickly used this to gain points. I think he did not get his rhythm tonight (yesternight) because I knew him as a good player having beaten him at the Czech Open this year,” he said.

    “I never thought I will progress to the next round because I was in the same group with players who were ranked higher than me. So, I had nothing to lose and I knew if I win it would be a massive result. I am ready to face any player because they will be under pressure as they are ranked better than me. I am hoping for another upset.”

    It would be recalled that Quadri defeated the Russian 4-3 at the last Czech Open.

  • 2014 ITTF World Cup: Quadri gets Japanese, Russian opponents

    2014 ITTF World Cup: Quadri gets Japanese, Russian opponents

    Africa’s representative at the 2014 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup, Aruna Quadri has been pitched against Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira and Russia’s Alexander Shibaev in group D of the first round of the championship, which serves off today at the ISS Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany.

    In the draw conducted at the conference room of ISS Dome, Quadri, who is rated 73 in the world, will begin his campaign for a place in the second round on table two against the Japanese who is ranked 27 in the world.

    In his second match of the group today as well, the African champion will take on his familiar foe and world number 37, Russia’s Shibaev on table two this evening to decide the two players from the group that will advance to the main draw scheduled for tomorrow.

    The youngest player of the tournament, United States’ Kanak Jha has been handed a tough draw as the young American ranked 423 in the world will tackle world number 22, Chinese Taipei’s Chien-An Chen and Romania’s Adrian Crisan rated 28 in the world in group c.

    12 players were drawn into four groups of three players in each group with the top two in each group progressing to the knockout stage against the world top eight with the draw holding tomorrow.

    A confident Quadri told Nationsport after the draw that he was sure of progressing to the next round having defeated the Russian at the Czech Open in August.

    “I think the pressure will be on the Russian player because he is ranked higher than me in the world and he will be playing under pressure to be able to avenge the loss he suffered during the Czech Open. I am sure that I will give my best against him. Against the Japanese, I think it is going to be nobody’s game because he is not an attacking player because I had lost against the two Japanese I had played against as they were both attackers.

    But against Kenta, I will ensure that I match him strength for strength being the first group game for me. I am still hopeful that I will qualify from the group,” Quadri said.

    Quadri will be tutored by the German coach, Martin Adomeit, who was engaged by kits company, Joola to handle the Nigerian at the championship.

  • Quadri gets German coach for ITTF World Cup

    Quadri gets German coach for ITTF World Cup

    Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri participation in the forthcoming International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Men’s World Cup received a boost as a German coach, Martin Adomeit, has been engaged to tutor the African champion during the competition.

    The engagement of the former German national coach was made possible by Quadri’s kits sponsor, Joola, who were thrilled by the performance of the player in recent time.

    This development was communicated to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) recently and the federation believes this would help the player to do well at the global tournament in Dusseldorf, Germany this week.

    An elated Quadri told Nationsport yesterday that he was happy having a qualified coach behind him during the championship.

    “It will be great to have someone at my back advising me on the table during World Cup because it has not been easy for me playing alone in all the Pro Tours I have played so far this year. I also believe that having a coach behind me in Düsseldorf will enable me to correct some of my mistakes. I seriously believe that having made mistakes in the previous months during Pro Tours and I am happy right now that an adviser has come to help me,” the Portugal-based player said.

    Quadri, who recently led his Portuguese club, GD Toledos to clinch the Mediterranean Cup in Turkey however, dismissed insinuation that he would make an impact in Germany.

    “It is true that the players listed for the World Cup posses qualities but that does not mean I cannot withstand their level. I seriously believe that I can still do better than what I achieved during the 2009 edition in Moscow, Russia. In the line-up of the players listed for the championship are two players ranked among the top 30 in the world and I defeated them last month at the Czech Open. With this kind of success I think better days are ahead for me at the World Cup,” he said.

    The world number 73 ranked player added: “I am not going to be intimidated by their ranking as I believe that ranking means participating regularly in tournaments. I know it is not going to be a walk-over for me because I need to give 100 percent in all my matches in Germany.”

    On his target in Germany, Quadri said: “My primary objective is to surpass my previous World Cup record and also to qualify from the group stage. If I qualify from the group stage, I seriously believe I can cause an upset in the knockout stage and in the main draw nobody knows what might happen.”

  • QUADRI FEARS NO FOE AT ITTF WORLD CUP

    QUADRI FEARS NO FOE AT ITTF WORLD CUP

    Despite the pedigree of players already listed for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup scheduled for this month in Germany, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri believes he will not be intimidated by anyone’s rating.

    The Portugal-based player told SportingLife yesterday that he was aware of the task ahead of him in Germany, and he would be ready for the challenge against the world’s best.

    “It is true that the players listed for the World Cup posses qualities but that does not mean I cannot withstand their level. I seriously believe that I can still do better than what I achieved during the 2009 edition in Moscow, Russia. In the line-up of the players listed for the championship are two players ranked among the top 30 in the world and I defeated them last month at the Czech Open. With this kind of success I think better days are ahead for me at the World Cup,” he said.

    The world number 73 ranked player added: “I am not going to be intimidated by their ranking as I believe that ranking means participating regularly in tournaments. I know it is not going to be a walk-over for me because I need to give 100 percent in all my matches in Germany.”

    Quadri, who is expected to lead his Portuguese club – GD Toledos to the knockout stage of the European Table Tennis Cup (ETTU) in Luxembourg, believes with the number of matches he would be playing at the ETTU Cup, he would be in good shape for the World Cup.

    “I am prepared for the competition in Germany because I have stopped playing in tournaments for two weeks now in order to rest well before the World Cup. I will commence my build up to the tournament in Luxembourg, with the second round of the ETTU Cup, where we are to compete against four teams in the group with one team expected to qualify to the third round. I will be playing six tough matches and I think it is going to get me more ready for the World Cup,” he said.

    Continuing he explained, “By upper weekend, my club will also be participating in the Mediterranean Championship taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. Over 16 teams will be playing in the competition and I will be playing from the beginning to the end for my team. I am going to play at least 16 to 10 tough matches and with all these, I should be able to be fully ready for the World Cup.”

    On his target in Germany, Quadri said: “My primary objective is to surpass my previous World Cup record and also to qualify from the group stage. If I qualify from the group stage, I seriously believe I can cause an upset in the knockout stage and in the main draw nobody knows what might happen. It is possible for me to make it to the knockout stage and if I am lucky and God is on my side during the tournament, making it to the quarterfinal is possible also. I think I have equal chances with all the players in the group stage.”

  • Quadri exits Belgium Open in round of 32

    Quadri exits Belgium Open in round of 32

    •Targets Portuguese Super Cup

    THE fine run of Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri was halted in the round of 32 of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged ‘Belgium Open’ by Japan’s Kentaro Miuchi with the Asian winning the encounter at 4-3.

    Before Quadri met his waterloo against the Japanese defender, he had defeated Slovakia’s Roman Rezetka 4-1 in the round of 64.

    Despite exiting the tournament early, the Nigerian is now targeting the Portuguese Super Cup for his club, GD Toledos this weekend.

    “It was painful losing to the Japanese but I must admit that I need to play in more competitions especially against defenders. I have put this behind me as I am looking forward to the Portuguese Super Cup against Sporting,” he said.

    He added: “I am seriously looking forward to retaining the Cup having won it last year. I know it is not going to be easy this time around because we are facing the most difficult rival, Sporting Lisbon, who are now a strong team this season. “There is no doubt that they have a very strong line-up but this is not going to intimidate us and we are also preparing for them.

    “For me, retaining the Cup will be great as I am still hungry for more titles.”

  • SEPTEMBER ITTF RANKING: Quadri jumps from 111 to 73

    SEPTEMBER ITTF RANKING: Quadri jumps from 111 to 73

    From being ranked 257 in February this year, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri became the biggest mover in September’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) ranking as the African champion is now rated 73rd in the world.

    In August, Quadri was listed as one of the active players by the ITTF and, as if that was not enough, the Oyo State-born player ranked 111, caused two major upsets at the last Czech Open when he defeated the world’s number 24 and 38 to make it to the last eight of the championship.

    Quadri, the first Nigerian to achieve such feat in an ITTF Pro Tour, moved from 111 to be rated 73rd in the world following the release of the September ranking by the world’s table tennis ruling body.

    For this feat, Quadri is now the second highly rated African player in the world behind Egypt’s Omar Assar, who is in the top 70. At the Czech Open, Assar failed to make it beyond the second round (round of 32) while Quadri made it to the quarterfinal of the competition where he was edged out by the eventual runner up of the tournament, Germany’s Patrick Baum.

    According to ITTF Publication Director, Ian Marshall, Frenchman Simon Gauzy, Spain’s He Zhiwen, Russia’s Kirill Skachkov and the Slovak Republic’s Wang Yang made progress in the September ranking following their Czech Republic excursion but none can match Nigeria’s Quadri.

    “Kirill Skachkov moves from no.73 to no.63 and Simon Gauzy from no.88 to no.65; whilst He Zhiwen advances from no.92 to no.79 and Wang Yang from no.108 to no.93.

    However, compared with Quadri they are minor moves; the 26-year-old Nigerian advances from a previous best of number 111 to 73, following his Men’s Singles quarter-final appearance,” Marshall said.

    For the president, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, Quadri’s recent performances did not come on a platter, as he remains one of the of most disciplined and hardworking players that the country has had in recent times.

    “I am not surprised that Quadri is doing well in recent times, he has always been a very disciplined and hardworking player who just needs to be supported.

    “For us, it is a good one for the country, as the federation would continue to support the players in their quest to progress in their career. We are proud of what Quadri has done and will still do and we hope sponsors will avail themselves the opportunity to support the player in his quest to make it to the zenith of the game in the world,” Oshodi said.

  • Quadri leads Toledos to retain Portuguese Cup

    Quadri leads Toledos to retain Portuguese Cup

    Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri maintained a clean sheet when he led G. D. Toledos Table Tennis Club to retain the Portuguese Cup at the weekend.

    The competition which was competed for by the 16 teams in the Portuguese table tennis elite league took place in the Azores Island of Pico in Portugal.

    Without dropping a match against all their opponents, G. D. Toledoes, who won the same tournament last season, repeated the feat when it defeated Sporting Club in the final 3-0 to hold on to the title.

    Quadri, who captained his team to retain the title, said their route to the final started when they battled G. D. Montargilense to a resounding 3-0 victory.

    “It was another happy weekend in the Azores Island of Pico after we defeated all our opponents to retain the Portuguese Cup title. We won the title in an amazing manner after none of our opponents won a game against us. In short, it was all 3-0 matches against all teams as we gave brilliant performances,” he said.

    “In the first round of the tournament, we defeated G. D. Montagilence 3-0. It was a familiar rival in the second round, Juncal, another tough team from the Azores Island. They gave us a tougher challenge but we won in three straight games to qualify for the semifinal. We played Benfica in the semifinal and won by the same margin. And we played Sporting Lisbon in the final and won in an amazing way, also 3-0. The toughest challenge came from the main rival, Sporting, but we played so much more better than them and gave a brilliant performance,” Quadri said.

    The All Africa Games bronze medalist added: “I started against Sporting Lisbon and I won in a surprising way. I won against Diogo Chen, a player that I had played against four times now and I succeeded in all encounters. I had a lot of problems in the last three meetings but at the weekend it was so much more better for me as I played from point to point and showed no mercy.

    “It was another dream come true for me to win the Portuguese Cup twice in a row and I give all thanks to almighty God for the perfect victory.

    “I feel so happy to do it again and my team will not relax at all until we win the league cup again. I personally will continue working harder,” he said.

    Quadri and his compatriot, Kazeem Makanjuola will next week take part in the Qatar and Kuwait Opens.

  • Ajetumobi, Quadri boast of victory in men’s doubles final

    Ajetumobi, Quadri boast of victory in men’s doubles final

    LAGOS INTERNATIONAL TABLE TENNIS CLASSICS

    The duo of Portugal based Seun Ajetumobi and Aruna Quadri have told all that care to listen that the men’s doubles crown of the ongoing Lagos International Table Tennis Classic is a must win.

    Speaking exclusively to SportingLife after defeating highly rated Segun Toriola and Monday Merontoun in three straight sets 11-8,11-7,11-5, in the semi-finals, Ajetumobi said only a victory against the duo of Makanjuola Kazeem and Jude Ogidiolu will be worth the hard work that has been put in preparing for the competition.

    He said: “I believe we can win the men’s doubles competition, the only thing in our mind is to beat everybody, so we don’t believe in anybody, but we believe in God and what we can do with our hands.”

    When asked if they consider their opponents as a threat he simply said: “we will not underrate any player but we don’t see them posing any problem to our title ambition. We have defeated all the top players, so as far as ratings are concerned they are far behind.”

    But for Makanjuola who plays for National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the sport is not about names but what one can do, adding that his trust and hope is in God.

    He said: “It feels good to be in the final of the men’s doubles, you know my partner is very good (Jude Ogidiolu), but I wasn’t sure we will get to the finals but now we are in the finals. I have the confidence that God will do it for me; I and my partner are not juniors we are in the same set with them (Seun Ajetumobi and Quadri) so we are not juniors to anybody.”

    He further thanked the State government for the efforts and urged them to do more: “The arrangement of the competition is very good, the hall too, and I want to say a very big thank you to the government may God continue to help them organize more events in the future.”

    The duo of Kazeem Makanjuola and Jude Ogidiolu defeated Saheed Idowu and Saka Suraju of Congo Brazzaville 3 straight sets 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 to emerge as finalists. The men’s doubles finals take place today at the Molade Okoya-Thomas hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.