Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna began his World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Finland’s Benedek Olah in the round of 64 on Sunday.
The match, held at Shijingshan Shougang Park in Beijing, saw Aruna triumph 13-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7.
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Ranked world number 19, Aruna’s strong start propels him into the round of 32 in the prestigious tournament, which boasts a $2 million prize pool and runs from September 26 to October 6.
The 39-year-old Nigerian icon, who once held the world number 10 spot—making him the first African player to achieve such a ranking—is eager to make a deep run in the tournament following a disappointing performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he was eliminated in the round of 64.
In other notable matches, top-seeded Chinese paddler Sun Yingsha cruised into the women’s singles round of 32, defeating Poland’s Natalia Bajor 11-7, 11-1, 11-8.
Aruna will now set his sights on the upcoming round as he continues his quest for glory in Beijing, looking to cement his place as one of Africa’s top table tennis players.
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