VIDEO: Quadri’s ITTF World Championship run ends in Round 8
The fairytale run of Nigerian table tennis legend Aruna Quadri at the ITTF World Chmpionship in USA has been halted.
Quadri lost in the quarter-finals to Sweden’s Truls Moregard 4-2 (13-11,11-8, 2-11, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7).
Aruna, had already made history by becoming the first player from Africa to feature in the last eight when he beat another Swede Kristian Karlsson in round two.
But the 19-year-old Moregard showed a mind of steel and grit to book a place in the Semi-Finals.
Sober
Afterwards the Nigerian took to his Instagram handle and sounded philosophical in defeat.
“Gave my heart and soul. It was not meant to be. It was not my day. Thank you all for the support,” he said.
Despite his ouster, Quadri has become an African legend who has made the continent proud with his aggressive playing style.
His stellar performance at this tournament will surely see him rise in the ITTF rankings.
At 36 years, Quadri might be getting closer to dropping his tennis bat.
Mazino Dickson/worldtabletennis.com
