Table Tennis: Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri Sets Another Record

Quadri defeated Japan’s Kaii Yoshida 11-7, 11-13 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12 (4-2) to become the first African to win ITTF title outside the continent.

It was a historic weekend for sports in Nigeria.

While the Super Eagles qualified for the world cup on home soil, Aruna Quadri proved that he is the best Table Tennis player to emerge from Africa.

With few days to the 2017 ITTF World Cup in Liege, Belgium, Quadri defied all odds to emerge as the men’s singles champion at the ITTF Challenge tagged Polish Open.

Quadri defeated giant killing Japan’s Kaii Yoshida 11-7, 11-13 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12 (4-2) to become the first African to win ITTF title outside the continent.

The final match against the Japanese lived up to expectation as both players entertained the audience while pushing each other to the limits.

In the women’s singles event, it was Japanese affair as ITTF World Cup defending champion, Mima Ito defeated her compatriot Saki Shibata 4-1 to emerge as winner.

He holds the best record as far as table tennis is concerned at the Olympics for an African, has been listed among the top 20 players in the world that will compete at the prestigious ITTF World Cup.

The tournament will run from October 20 to 22 and Quadri will definitely hope he keeps the momentum.