Nigerian tennis star Aruna returns to top 20 in latest ITTF ranking
![Aruna Quadri[ credit - Brila Fm]](https://gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Aruna-Quadri-credit-Brila-Fm-1200x675.jpg)
Nigeria’s veteran table tennis player, Quadri Aruna, made a quick return to the top 20 in a new ranking released on Tuesday by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
The rating list, made public by the world’s table tennis ruling body, shows the Nigerian climbing three spots to the 19th spot.
In the last two rankings, Aruna, who slid to 22 after missing the World Team Championships in Korea and the WTT Champions in Incheon, fought his way back to the elite rank in the sport.
African Games champion Omar Assar of Egypt also gained one step up the rating to be ranked 16th in the world.
Also, Aruna started his campaign at the ITTF World Cups Macao 2024 on a good note.
He won 4-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6) over Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez to set the final group 15 tie against Portugal’s Marcos Freitas on April 17 at the Galaxy Arena.
Aruna occupied the top spot in the group as Freitas had earlier beaten Gonzalez 4-0 (17-15, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1).
However, the Nigerian had more points than the Portuguese to be rated number one in the group.
The tie between Aruna and Freitas will decide the group winner, who will then advance to the second stage (knockout) of the competition.
Aruna said after winning his first match, ”I’m very happy. It’s my third time here in Macao and my first time winning a match here in Macao, so I feel very happy and excited.”
Aruna and Assar started well in their group with an overwhelming 4-0 win over Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan to set up a deciding group tie against Sweden’s Truls Moregard on April 17.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali and Yousra Helmy have exited the World Cups after losing their second group match.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

World
Food delivery rider wins China’s Lu Xun Literature Prize in poetry
A 56-year-old Chinese food courier, Wang Jibing, has been named the winner of China’s Lu Xun Literature Prize in poetry.

Showbiz
Portable challenges Terry G to boxing match
Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, has challenged veteran artiste Terry G to a boxing match, saying the bout would revive Terry G’s career.

Economy
UK govt fines Southern Water £7 million for sewage pollution
The prosecution came almost exactly five years after Southern Water received a record £90 million fine for nearly 7,000 illegal sewage discharges.

World
Andy Burnham is people pleaser, doesn’t want scrutiny: Kemi Badenoch
The leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has described the prospective prime minister as a “people pleaser”.

Education
UniCal reaffirms ban on wild post-exam celebrations, warns students
The University of Calabar has reiterated its ban on wild post-examination celebrations and other acts that could disrupt peace on campus.

Politics
Governors urged to embrace non-custodial prison sentences
Mr Enobore, a former spokesman for the Nigeria Correctional Service, gave the charge in an interview on Monday in Abuja.





