Africa’s top-ranked table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, moved up two spots from 18th to 16th in the latest International Table Tennis Federation World Rankings for men’s singles.
This comes after he successfully retained his ITTF Africa Senior Championships title – his eighth African table tennis title in dominant style overcoming Ahmed Saleh of Egypt in the men’s singles final in Tunisia last Sunday.
The Nigerian top seed retained his men’s singles title with a convincing 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6) amid missing a direct qualifying spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite the setback, the 33-year-old earned a total of 500 ranking points for a total of 1260.
“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.”
Since 2018, Aruna has secured three African singles titles, triumphed in doubles three times, and emerged victorious in two team events.
Egypt’s Omar Assar also moved up one spot to 21st in the world and second in Africa with a total point haul of 990 points, while Ahmed Saleh made an incredible leap moving 218 places to finish the month at 52nd and third in Africa with 38i points.
Mohamed Beiali is ranked 62nd in the world and fourth in the continent, having chalked up 307 points.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw lost two spots to finish the month at 90 in the world and fifth on the continent, having chalked up 208 points.
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.
Punch/Jamiu Ogunshe
