ITTF Rankings: Quadri moves to 16th spot, remains 1st In Africa

Nigerian table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, has moved up two places from 18th to 16th in the latest International Table Tennis Federation ITTF World Rankings for men’s singles.

This comes after he recently defended his ITTF Africa Senior Championships title (his eighth African table tennis title) in impressive fashion defeating Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh last Sunday in the men’s singles final in Tunisia.

The Africa’s top-ranked player retained his men’s singles title with a commanding 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6) victory having missed a direct qualification to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The 33-year-old Nigerian top seed earned a total of 500 points for a total of 1260 ranking points, despite the setback.

“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,” the 35-year-old said.

“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 Quadri has won three African singles titles, emerged victorious in the doubles on three occasions and also triumphed in two team events, since 2018.

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 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.

Nigerian duo Omotayo Olajide and Bode Abiodun moved up 264 and 294 spots respectively to rank 104 and 146.

Meanwhile, 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.