Africa’s leading table tennis players endured a disappointing start at the ongoing WTT Champions Doha, as Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Hana Goda suffered early exits in the singles competition of the $500,000 tournament at the Lusail Sports Arena, Qatar.
Earlier, Egypt’s Omar Assar was the first African casualty, falling 3–1 to Japan’s Shunsuke Togami on Wednesday, January 7.
Goda came closest to a breakthrough but was edged out 3–1 by former world No. 1 Zhu Yuling after a spirited display. Yuling, who capped an impressive 2025 with victory at the United States Smash, relied on her experience to see off the Egyptian teenager. Despite the loss, Goda continues to make history as the only African player to reach the Women’s Singles quarterfinals at the WTT Champions level, achieving the feat at Montpellier 2024 and Frankfurt 2025.
In Doha, Goda dropped the opening game 11–8, responded strongly to take the second 11–5, and pushed Yuling to the limit in two tightly contested games. The Chinese star held her nerve to claim the third 15–13 and the fourth 12–10, sealing the match.
Aruna, meanwhile, endured a tougher outing as China’s sixth seed Liang Jingkun recorded a commanding 3–0 victory. Although outplayed, Aruna showed flashes of his trademark power, offering signs of promise ahead of the new season.
African attention now shifts to the WTT Star Contender Doha 2026, scheduled for January 13–18, where Aruna, Assar and Goda are expected to return alongside other continental stars in another major showcase at the Lusail Sports Arena.
ITTF