Table Tennis: Algerian Star Targets Ranking Points In Houston
Algerian table tennis star Sami Kherouf said he is aiming to gain ranking points as he is the only Algerian competing in the Men’s Singles event of the 2021 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships scheduled to hold in Houston, USA.
Kherouf, who admitted that the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the tournament was discouraging due to the COVID-19 pandemic, believes every player heading to the United States is excited returning to the world championships.
“The world championships is always a special event particularly for high level players. It is always a pleasure to face the best players in the world,” Kherouf said. “My goals for the world championship are to improve my general world ranking and perform well and qualify to the last 32.”
“This is the first time that United States is organising the world championships. It is historic and I think it is going to be one of the best world championships in the history of table tennis because they have all the means to organise any world event.”
The Algerian star believes African players are getting closer to mounting the podium at the World Championships considering the performance of Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Omar Assar of Egypt at the Olympic Games.
“Winning a medal at the world championship for African players is not easy but for Aruna and Assar, I think they have all the means to get a medal since they were both closer to a medal march at the Olympics,” Kherouf added.
Chidi Nwoke/ITTF-Africa.
