Nigeria’s table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, suffered an unexpected setback on Tuesday after he was forced to withdraw midway through his opening-round match against France’s Alexis Lebrun at the WTT Champions in Montpellier.
Aruna, ranked 26th in the world and celebrated for his tenacity at the table, appeared visibly uncomfortable from the onset. His movement looked restricted, drawing concern from spectators and commentators who noted his lack of balance and stiffness during rallies.
Read Also: Dikko Warns Against Sensationalism, Says Irresponsible Sports Reporting Threatens National Unity
After losing the first set, Aruna was seen speaking with his coach about flexibility issues, but despite the evident physical discomfort, he attempted to continue. His coach urged him to adjust his play and push through, and Aruna fought on into the second set before ultimately retiring, unable to continue.
The withdrawal came as a disappointment considering Aruna’s strong record against Lebrun, whom he had beaten twice in previous encounters. The French crowd, hopeful to see Lebrun secure his first win over the Nigerian on home soil, was left with an anticlimactic finish rather than the anticipated high-intensity showdown.
The result also marks the end of Africa’s representation at the WTT Champions Montpellier, closing a chapter many fans had hoped would extend deeper into the competition.
Aruna’s camp is yet to release a formal update on the extent of the injury, but the development raises questions over his fitness ahead of upcoming international engagements.
