Quadri Aruna Becomes Africa’s Highest-Ranked Player

Quadri Aruna Becomes Africa’s Highest-Ranked Table Tennis Player, Climbs to 18th in World Ranking

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has overtaken Egypt’s Omar Assar to become Africa’s highest-ranked table tennis player in the latest ITTF ranking released on Tuesday. Aruna, who was previously ranked 19th in week 11, climbed to 18th, while Assar dropped from 17th to 19th.

Aruna’s Rise in Global Table Tennis

Despite finishing as the runner-up at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup, Aruna’s outstanding performances at WTT tournaments this year have significantly boosted his ranking. Notably, he remains the only African male player to have reached the semi-finals of the WTT Contender Doha, a feat he replicated in January 2024 after achieving it in 2023.

Denmark’s Jonathan Groth moved up to 17th place, replacing Assar, who slipped in the rankings.

Upcoming Challenges for Aruna

Aruna will next compete in the WTT Contender Chennai in India, which is scheduled to take place from March 23 to 30. His performances there could further impact his global ranking.

Hana Goda Dominates Women’s African Rankings

In the women’s singles, Egypt’s Hana Goda maintained her position as Africa’s top-ranked female player, moving up one place to 26th. Her compatriot, Dina Meshref, remained steady at 33rd, continuing to hold the second-best spot among African women.

Global Rankings Overview

In the global rankings, China’s Wang Chuqin retained his position as the world’s second-best player, behind his compatriot Lin Shidong, who remains at No. 1. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto overtook China’s Liang Jingkun for third place after reaching the semifinals in Chongqing.

For the women’s rankings, the top five remain unchanged, with China’s Sun Yingsha holding onto the No. 1 spot after defending her WTT Champions Chongqing title.