Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has triumphed over Egypt’s El-Beiali Mohamed to win the men’s singles title at the 2024 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup.
The 35-year-old Nigerian secured a decisive victory in Kigali, Rwanda, defeating his opponent in four straight sets: 11-5, 11-6, 12-10, and 11-3.
This victory marks a significant comeback for Quadri, who had previously lost in the final of the last three editions of the competition. He last won the title in 2017 in Agadir, Morocco.
His losses came at the hands of Egypt’s Omar Assar in 2023 and 2022 and Ahmed Saleh in 2020. This time, Quadri left no room for error, dominating the match to clinch the prize.
Both Aruna Quadri and Dina Meshref have now qualified for the 2025 ITTF World Cup qualifier in Doha, Qatar.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup, the final round of African qualifiers for the Paris Olympics will commence on Thursday.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s table tennis pacesetter, Mr. Aruna Quadri, on winning the ITTF Africa Cup title.
The President, in a release issued on Wednesday, commended the table tennis star for his dogged pursuit of excellence even in the face of gnawing obstacles, declaring that the zeal for distinction, the hardiness to succeed, and the inventiveness to solve complex problems are the exceptional qualities that define Nigerians.
President Tinubu also noted the recent progress in the nation’s sports sector, with remarkable performances in the African Games, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Relay Championships, and emphasizes that his administration will continue to foster the growth and development of sports in the country.
The President reassured Nigerians that his administration remains dedicated to expanding the space of opportunities across diverse fields for Nigeria’s creative youths.
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