By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s top Table Tennis star, Quadri Aruna, has gained points in the latest rankings by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) released on Saturday.
This was after the victory of the African number one player at the just concluded ITTF Continental Championship in Rades, Tunisia, few days ago.
The Nigerian top seed retained his men’s singles title with a convincing 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6) amid missing a direct qualifying spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The latest ranking released by the table tennis international body shows that the Nigerian international moved from his previous 18th position to 16th.
Soaring Points
The 33-year-old Nigerian top seed earned a total of 500 points for a total of 1260 ranking points, despite the setback.
Reacting to his latest feat, Aruna said, “I am happy with the title because I have a good and bad memory of Tunis, having got injured here during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification.
“Winning another title here is good to erase the bad memory. This win will remain with me for a long time. I am happy and I look forward to the next challenge.”
Aruna has won three African singles titles, and emerged victorious in the doubles on three occasions and also triumphed in two team events, since 2018.
Other Nigerians
Nigerian duo Omotayo Olajide and Bode Abiodun moved up 264 and 294 spots respectively to rank 104 and 146.
The quartet Taiwo Mati, Amadi Omeh, Azeez Solanke and Riliwan Akanbi dropped in the latest rankings for men.
Mati, 17, is now ranked 92nd in the world while Omeh who dropped four spots is now placed 169th. Akanbi on his part dropped four spot in the recent ranking released to 273 just as Solanke dropped two spots to 286th.
Assar, Others Move
Omar Assar of Egypt also moved up one place to 21st in the world rankings and second in Africa amassing a total of 990 points, while Ahmed Saleh made a remarkable leap moving 218 places to finish the month at 52nd in the world and third in Africa with 381 points.
Mohamed Beiali, ranked 62nd in the world, is fourth on the continent, having garnered 307 points.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw lost 208 points and two spots to finish the month at 90 in the world and fifth in Africa.
