Egypt Reigns In ITTF Africa Cup Tournament
Egyptian table tennis stars Omar Assar and Hana Goda won the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, in the 2022 ITTF Africa Cup tournament at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.
In the men’s singles final, Omar Assar was up against rival Quadri Aruna and the Egyptian won the title after a 4-3 victory against the Nigeria.
It was the 19th meeting between with Assar and Aruna, with the Egyptian leading the head to head 10-8. The Last meeting was at the African Championships in Yaounde 2021 where the Assar won 4-1. Quadri twisted his leg while attempting to return a ball. As a result, he could no longer compete favourably due to the excruciating pain.
“I am happy that I won today, but at this time, I am worried about Aruna’s injury,” Assar said after his victory. “Aruna and I are very close friends outside the court. To me, the most important thing is that he is healthy and that he is not in pains.”
“I wish him all the best and soonest recovery.”
Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali also claimed the third spot in the men’s singles.
Hana Goda
In the women’s singles category, Egyptian teenage sensation Hana Goda emerged the 2022 Africa Cup champion after a dominant 4-0 victory against Fatimo Bello of Nigeria, who was making her debut in a continental final.
Goda becomes the youngest ever African champion at only 14 years and 7 months old as she proverd too much for the three-time West African Champion Bello.
It was also Goda’s consecutive continental final following her loss to Alhodaby at the African Championships in Yaounde 2021.
Winners of the different categories were rewarded with cash prizes of $5,000; first runners up $2,500; second runners up $1,500, and third runners up, $1,000.
Chidi Nwoke/ITTF-Africa.
