Quadri Aruna has surpassed Omar Assar to become Africa’s top-ranked table tennis player, sitting at 18th in the global rankings. His notable performances, including semifinal appearances at WTT tournaments, contributed to this achievement despite being the runner-up at the ITTF Africa Cup. In women’s rankings, Hana Goda remains the top African player, now 26th globally.
Quadri Aruna of Nigeria has risen to prominence by dethroning Egypt’s Omar Assar to become Africa’s highest-ranked table tennis player, according to the latest rankings from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Released on Tuesday, the rankings place Aruna at the 18th position globally with 1290 points, a one-position increase from the previous standings.
Despite finishing as the runner-up at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup, Aruna’s remarkable performance at the World Table Tennis (WTT) tournaments throughout the year has been commendable. Notably, he is the only male African player to have reached the semifinals of the WTT Contender event in Doha, reiterating his semifinal success earlier this year.
This recent achievement has propelled Aruna ahead of Assar, who secured the championship at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup two weeks prior but fell from 17th to 19th place in the rankings, now holding 1250 points.
In women’s table tennis, Egypt’s Hana Goda remains the highest-ranked player in Africa, moving up to 26th place in the ITTF rankings. Her fellow countrywoman, Dina Meshref, maintains her position as the second-best female player in Africa, remaining static at 33rd.
In the international scene, China’s Wang Chuqin remains the second-best player in the world, following his compatriot Lin Shidong, who retains the top-ranking. Meanwhile, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto advanced to the third position after his notable semifinal performance in Chongqing. The top five players in women’s rankings have not changed, with Sun Yingsha of China holding the leading position after successfully defending her WTT Champions Chongqing title.
In summary, Quadri Aruna’s advancement to the top of Africa’s table tennis rankings marks a significant achievement for Nigerian sports, showcasing his exceptional skills and determination. His success at WTT tournaments has played a critical role in surpassing Omar Assar. Meanwhile, the consistent performances of female players in Africa, specifically Hana Goda and Dina Meshref, illustrate the region’s growing competitiveness in international table tennis.
Original Source: nannews.ng
