By Victor Kanayo
The 2025 ITTF Africa Cup champion, Omar Assar of Egypt, and his continental rival, Quadri Aruna of Nigeria, are among the top 32 players in the world set to compete for glory at the $800,000 prize money WTT Champions Chongqing 2025 in China.
The tournament also features Africa’s top female players, Hana Goda and Dina Meshref of Egypt, who will battle against 30 other elite players, including the world No. 1 from China, in the first WTT Champions event of 2025.
WTT Champions Chongqing 2025 marks the season’s inaugural WTT Champions event, showcasing 32 Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles players in electrifying action under the purple lights from 11 to 16 March.
Assar will face German pen-holder Dan Qiu in the first round on Wednesday, 12 March, while Aruna faces his biggest challenge yet against world No. 2, Wang Chuqin of China, in their first-ever competitive match on the same day.
For the first time in the WTT series, Chuqin and Aruna will go head-to-head in an intriguing first-round encounter.
Aruna, a seasoned competitor, brings experience and tactical versatility to the table, while Wang, backed by his ice-cold composure and a roaring home crowd, will aim to dictate the tempo. With no past meetings to reference, both players will step into uncharted waters in this Chongqing showdown.
Goda, who recently reclaimed her ITTF Africa Cup title after a 4-2 comeback against Meshref, will face South Korea’s sensation Shun Yubin in a battle of wits between two of the brightest stars in the world on Thursday, 13 March.
Goda, a former quarter-finalist at this level, made history with her top-eight finish last season in Montpellier, France.
The 17-year-old ace arrives in Chongqing on a mission, looking to bounce back from consecutive round-of-32 exits at WTT Champions Frankfurt 2024 and Singapore Smash 2025.
For Meshref, it is another challenge for the nine-time Africa Cup champion as she confronts Korean star Kim Nayeong in the first round of the women’s singles on Tuesday, 11 March.
