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Tag: Aruna Quadri

Aruna, Goda Begin 2026 Campaign at WTT Champions Doha

Fola Badmus04 mins

After the disappointment of missing out on the end-of-year WTT Cup Finals for the first time, Africa’s table tennis stars Quadri Aruna of Nigeria and Hana Goda of Egypt will open their 2026 campaigns on Thursday, January 8, at the WTT Champions Doha in Qatar. For the first time in the history of the WTT Cup Finals, no African player featured in the 2025 edition, as both Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar missed qualification based on their overall performances last season. Aruna, the only African to have consistently featured in the Cup Finals since its inception in 2021, ended 2025 as the continent’s highest-ranked male player but failed to make the top 16 cut. Goda, Africa’s top-ranked female player, also missed out after falling short of the top-16 threshold required for entry into the lucrative tournament. Now, both players will look to bounce back at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, where they face tough Asian opposition in the opening round of the singles event. Aruna will renew his rivalry with China’s Liang Jingkun, while Goda faces a stern test against former World No. 1 Zhu Yuling of Macao. Aruna and Jingkun share a competitive history. The Nigerian famously defeated the Chinese star at the 2021 WTT Cup Finals, but their first encounter at the 2018 Korean Open saw Jingkun dominate with a 4-1 victory. Their clash in Doha will mark their third meeting, with both players eager to tilt the head-to-head record in their favour. For Goda, the duel against Yuling will be their first-ever meeting on the international stage. The Egyptian prodigy will be aiming to upset the established order at a tournament where players battle for crucial ranking points and a share of the $500,000 prize purse. Meanwhile, Assar endured a disappointing start to the year. His new partnership with Austrian coach and former world champion Werner Schlager began with defeat, as the Egyptian surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 against Japan’s Shunsuke Togami in the first round of the men’s singles. Despite the setback, Assar has signalled his intent to challenge the sport’s elite in 2026. This marks the first time the Qatari capital will host the purple WTT Champions, adding further prestige to the season-opening event.

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Nigeria, Togo Set to Defend Titles at 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships in Lagos

Fola Badmus04 mins

Defending champions Nigeria and Togo are gearing up to retain their titles at the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, scheduled to take place from July 16 to 19 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Nigeria, the region’s most decorated team, will defend its women’s team title, which it retained in Lomé last year. Meanwhile, Togo will aim to secure a second consecutive men’s team title, following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nigeria in the 2024 final. This year’s championship will feature strong competition from across the region, with Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger Republic, and Sierra Leone joining the fray. In the singles events, Nigeria’s top-ranked player, Matthew Kuti, will defend his men’s singles title. Kuti made history last year in Lomé by defeating Côte d’Ivoire’s Oba Oba Kizito 4-1 to claim his first regional crown. A repeat victory would make him the first male player to win back-to-back singles titles in the tournament’s history. The women’s singles title is open for the taking following the absence of reigning champion Hope Udoaka of Nigeria, setting the stage for a new champion to emerge. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 African Championships, to be held later this year in Rwanda. With the advantage of home support and the largest player contingent, Nigeria is also eyeing a return to the top in the men’s team event. Participation has reached a new high, with over 10 countries confirmed, surpassing previous editions that peaked at nine. Notably, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Niger Republic are returning to the competition after years of absence. “All eyes will be on Nigeria,” said Ferdinand Sonou, Vice President of ITTF Africa West Region and former President of the Benin Table Tennis Federation. “Nigeria has a proven track record of hosting international competitions, and teams always look forward to playing here. This tournament marks the beginning of a series of international events in Lagos, and I believe we’ll witness the emergence of new stars alongside the established ones.” Sonou also commended ITTF Africa President Wahid Enitan Oshodi for his continued support, noting that the increased number of participating teams reflects the growing strength of table tennis in the region. The 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships promise high-stakes action, intense rivalries, and a celebration of West African table tennis excellence.

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Aruna, Goda Join Star-Studded Cast at WTT Star Contender in Slovenia

Fola Badmus03 mins

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Hana Goda are among the elite players set to compete at the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025, taking place in Slovenia. The WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025 boasts a prize pool of $300,000 and offers valuable ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points. The singles champions will receive $17,000 and 600 points, while the doubles champions will take home $5,500 and 600 points. This highly anticipated event, hosted at Hala Tivoli in Ljubljana, has attracted a star-studded lineup of table tennis greats. Aruna, currently ranked 24th in the world and the highest-ranked African player, is seeded No. 14 in the men’s singles and has received a bye into the second round (last 32). He is expected to face the winner between Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and China’s Xu Haidong on Friday, June 20. Similarly, Goda, seeded No. 15 in the women’s singles, also received a bye into the second round. She is set to face the winner between Japan’s Sakura Yokoi and South Korea’s Joo Cheonhui. Some of the world’s best players will battle it out over five events in what promises to be a week-long table tennis spectacle. Leading the charge in the men’s singles is Brazilian star and 2025 World Championships runner-up, Hugo Calderano. Known as the “Thrill from Brazil,” Calderano returns to Slovenia with bold ambition, looking to defend his title from last year’s triumph. Joining him are global heavyweights including Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, winner of the Men’s Singles title at WTT Star Contender Doha 2025; Felix Lebrun, champion at WTT Champions Montpellier 2024; and Slovenian home favourite Darko Jorgic. In the women’s singles, Japan’s Miwa Harimoto headlines the field after claiming the title at WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025. Her compatriot Hina Hayata is also back to defend her title from last year’s Ljubljana tournament. Other strong contenders include South Korea’s Shin Yubin, seeking her first WTT Star Contender title, as well as Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and China’s Qian Tianyi, both of whom are expected to make deep runs in the competition.

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Proud Aruna Bows Out to Calderano in Doha

Fola Badmus03 mins

Quadri Aruna may have concluded his campaign at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, after a tough fourth-round defeat. The proud Nigerian succumbed to Brazil’s Hugo Calderano in a one-sided Men’s Singles clash at the Lusail Arena on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Billed as one of the tournament’s marquee matchups, the contest fell short of expectations, with Calderano displaying outright dominance from start to finish. The South American star cruised to a commanding 4-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6) victory to book his place in the quarterfinals. Tactically astute, Calderano effectively neutralized Aruna’s powerful forehand—his most dangerous weapon—by forcing the Nigerian into backhand exchanges, which proved largely ineffective. Despite strategic input and encouragement from his coaching corner, Aruna struggled to find rhythm, committing numerous unforced errors that further tilted momentum toward his opponent. The 22-minute encounter showcased Calderano’s elite technique, including his blistering backhand and explosive forehand topspin, which consistently earned him points. Despite the loss, Aruna continues to make history. At 36, he remains a trailblazer for African table tennis. He became the first African to reach the Round of 16 at the ITTF World Championships twice, following his quarterfinal appearance at the 2021 edition in Houston, USA. In Doha, he was the only African to finish in the top 16, further cementing his legacy. Speaking after the match, Calderano acknowledged the threat posed by Aruna. “It’s never easy to stay at the same level in every competition, especially after winning the ITTF World Cup last month. I had to take some rest and resume training, focused because table tennis is unpredictable. Against someone like Aruna, you always have to be at your best,” Calderano said. Though his journey ends in Doha, Aruna’s impact continues to resonate. His performance remains a source of pride for Nigeria and the African continent.

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