Table Tennis: Aruna Places 19th In Latest ITTF Ranking
Nigerian table tennis sensation, Quadri Aruna, made a quick return to the top 20 of the latest ITTF Ranking released by the world body, gaining three steps up the ranking to occupy 19th position.
In the last two rankings, Aruna slid to 22nd after missing the World Team Championships in Korea as well as the WTT Champions in Incheon, but he has fought his way back to the elite rank of the rating.
Aruna started his campaign at the ITTF World Cups, tagged Macao 2024, on a good note with a 4-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6) convincing win over Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez to set the final group 15 tie against Portugal’s Marcos Freitas on Wednesday, April 17th at the Galaxy Arena.
Africa’s top stars, Omar Assar and Quadri Aruna, have kicked off their World Cup journey brightly, securing wins in their respective Groups on Day 2 of action in Macao. pic.twitter.com/lnyNXIUoVq
— ITTF-Africa (@ITTFAfrica) April 16, 2024
Aruna occupied the top spot in the group as Freitas had earlier beaten Gonzalez 4-0 (17-15, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1), but the Nigerian had more points than the Portuguese to be rated number one in the group. But the tie between Aruna and Freitas will decide the winner of the group who will then advance to the second stage of the competition.
“I’m very happy. It’s my third time here in Macao and it’s my first time winning a match here in Macao, so I feel very happy and excited,” Aruna said after winning his first match.
Omar Assar of Egypt
13th African Games champion Omar Assar of Egypt continued his steady rise in the world as the African Cup champion moved to 16th in the latest ITTF Ranking released by the world body.
Like Aruna, Assar started well in Group 16 with an overwhelming 4-0 win over Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan to set up a deciding group tie against Sweden’s Truls Moregard on Wednesday, April 17th.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali and Yousra Helmy have exited the World Cups after losing their second group match of the competition.
