My priority is to get better in t/tennis ―Aruna

Africa’s number one table tennis player, Quadri Aruna, said on Wednesday that his utmost focus “is getting better in the craft.”

Aruna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from his base in Portugal that his next target would be to do better in every competition.

“When I attend a competition, once it ends, my focus shifts automatically to the next competition.

“It’s always my wish and focus to outdo my past records, I strive hard to make sure I progress at all times.

“I start to plan and look for ways to surpass whatever record I might have achieved in the last competition.

“All I want is to be better than I was before and to have better results in future.

“This requires a lot of hard work and I am doing just that to achieve my aim,” he said.

According to the Olympian, table tennis keeps evolving with great players coming up every now and then, as such a player should not relent in developing new skills.

The 2015 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) star player said that his next competition would be the German Open, which serves off November 7 to end on November 12.

“I played at the 2016 German Open and I was in the main draw, the main draw is round of 32.

“I will be going with an open mind and hoping for the best.

“I’ll ensure I play with caution and play each match as it comes with full concentration.”

NAN reports that in October, Aruna won the ITTF Polish Open and became the first African to win an ITTF title outside the continent.

Also in the same month, he signed a three-year deal with Premier Lotto.

This development will support his dream for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The three-year endorsement is valued at $75,000 (N27 million).

The contract is the biggest deal to be signed by any table tennis player in Africa.