Quadri sets African record as world’s 21st

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has added a chapter to the history of table tennis in Africa, as he has now been rated 21st best player in the world, the best record ever by any African player.

According to the latest world rankings for the month of December released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Quadri, who was ranked 27th last month moved six places up to become the continent’s number one with 2507 points.

Quadri who holds the enviable record of being the only African to make it to the quarter-final of the men’s World Cup (Düsseldorf 2014) and the Olympic Games (Rio 2016).

Also in October this year in Czestochowa, the 2014 Star Player of the year created another record as the first African to win an ITTF title outside the continent, when he claimed the men’s singles title at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Polish Open Championship.

The Oyo State-born ping ponger defeated Japan’s Kaii Yoshida after six sets (11-7, 11-13 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12) to achieve the feat.

Quadri also hold the record of being Nigeria’s first player to win a Men’s Singles title on either the ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series.

Two-time Olympian {London 2012 and Rio 2016}, Quadri, also finished in the semi-final of the 2017 ITTF World Challenge Bulgaria Open when he lost to the eventual winner, German Dmitrij Ovtcharov.

Meanwhile, Quadri’s arch rival, Egyptian Omar Assar follows on the world rankings as he occupies 26th spot and second in Africa with 2497 points.

China’s MA Long maintains his number one spot in the world rankings with 3323 points followed by his kinsman Fan Zhendong with 3254 points, while German Dimitrij occupies the third spot with 3106 points.