Doha 2024: Aruna Quadri defeats Calderano

Nigeria table tennis sensation Aruna Quadri started the 2024 season on a winning note as he defeated Brazilian International Hugo Calderano in Doha.

READ ALSO: Quadri to battle Brazil’s Calderano in first round at WTT Finals

The top 16 table tennis players are slugging it out in the world Table tennis tournament in Lusail, Doha and Aruna is the only African player in the competition.

He faced the South American player on Wednesday afternoon and recorded a narrow 3-2 victory.

The African champion started the game slowly losing the first two sets 11-2, 11-7 but bounced back strongly to win 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 to progress to the quarter final.

Aruna’s victory earned him a spot in the quarterfinals, where he was set to face the world’s number one player, Fan Zhendong of China.

With the WTT Men’s Finals offering substantial World Ranking points and featuring a prize pool of $340,000, the tournament is a high-stakes event for the participants. Aruna’s performance adds to his accolades and boosts his world rating ahead of the qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.