Omar Assar’s impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has propelled him to the top of the African table tennis rankings.
The Egyptian star moved up five places to 17th in the ITTF world rankings, as announced on Tuesday, August 6, during Week 32 of 2024. This achievement places Assar ahead of Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, who has slipped to 20th.
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Despite a 4-1 loss to Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the Men’s Singles quarterfinal, Assar made history by becoming the first African to reach consecutive Olympic quarterfinals, matching Aruna’s feat from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw also made significant progress, climbing six places to 83rd despite an early exit from the Olympics.
Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo, the 2019 African Games champion, jumped 12 places to 92nd, marking the second-largest leap among African players.
Saheed Idowu, a Nigeria-born player representing Congo Brazzaville, moved up 16 places to the 100th spot after a thrilling 4-3 loss to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg, earning widespread admiration for his performance.
In the women’s rankings, Egypt’s Dina Meshref continues to lead African players, rising two places to 24th, while her compatriot Hana Goda climbed to 31st. Nigeria’s Offiong Edem re-entered the top 100, advancing 14 places to 97th.
The retired Cameroonian star Sarah Hanffou concluded her career ranked 109th, while Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello made a significant leap of 26 places to 118th in the latest rankings.
These movements highlight the dynamic and competitive nature of African table tennis, showcasing the talent and resilience of its players on the global stage.
As African athletes continue to excel, the continent’s presence in international table tennis is steadily rising, reflecting their hard work and dedication.
