September 24, (THEWILL) – Aruna Quadri is a name that resonates with table tennis fans across the world, especially in Africa, where he has been dominating the sport for years.
The Nigerian star recently retained his title in the men’s singles of the 2023 ITTF African Championships, defeating Ahmed Saleh of Egypt in a resounding 4-0 win in the final match last Sunday, September 17, in Tunis, Tunisia. This was his third consecutive title in the continental event, and his eighth overall, making him one of the most successful African table tennis players of all time.
However, how did Quadri become the table tennis legend he is today? What are the challenges and achievements that shaped his career? And what are his future prospects as he prepares for the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024? It will be apposite to take a trip down memory lane for answers.
Quadri was born on August 9, 1988, in Oyo, a town in southwestern Nigeria. He was the youngest of five children of a teacher mother and a farmer father. He grew up in a modest environment, where he had to share a single room with his siblings. He attended a public primary school, where he was introduced to table tennis by his physical education teacher, who noticed his talent and encouraged him to pursue the sport.
At about 10 years of age, the young Quadri often accompanied his older brother, Femi, to the table tennis hall in Oyo. As their house was beside the hall, Aruna was known to peep through the door to watch older boys play with Femi, who had a good hand in the game. It was not long before his interest was noticed and he began to get invited to join in and play with the other boys. As long as he did not allow his studies to suffer because of his newfound love for table tennis, his mother allowed him to continue.
Quadri’s initial tutelage came from Abolarin Oluwole, a tennis player who turned trainer and is credited with discovering the Nigerian tennis superstar. After being granted permission by Quadri’s mother to train him, the trainer honed the boy’s skills and focused his determination through dedicated fidelity to the sport.
Credited to the careful ministrations of trainer Oluwole and the tender attention of Quadri’s mother, efforts were focussed on keeping the player still as dedicated to his studies as he was to perfecting his service game. Tennis sessions were off limits during examination periods and the young boy had the presence of mind to follow this guidance.
Quadri quickly developed a passion for table tennis, and started playing regularly at a local club, where he met his mentor and coach, Segun Toriola, who is also a Nigerian table tennis legend and seven-time Olympian.
Toriola took Quadri under his wing and helped him improve his skills and technique. Quadri’s dedication and hard work paid off, as he started winning local and national tournaments at a young age. He also represented Nigeria at various international junior events, such as the African Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships.
He won his first continental title in 2004, when he clinched the cadet boys’ singles gold medal at the African Junior Championships in Mauritius. He also made his debut at the senior level in 2004, when he participated in the ITTF World Championships in Qatar.
Aruna Quadri’s breakthrough came in 2009, when he won his first senior African title in the men’s singles at the ITTF African Championships. He defeated his compatriot Monday Merotohun in the final, becoming the youngest African champion at 21 years old. He also won the men’s doubles gold medal with Toriola at the same event. Quadri continued to impress at the continental level, winning three more titles in 2010 (in Congo), 2012 (in Morocco), and 2014 (in Mauritius). He also qualified for his first Olympic Games in London 2012, where he reached the second round of the men’s singles event before losing to Bora Vang of Turkey.
However, it was at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games that Aruna Quadri made history, becoming the first African player to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s singles event. He stunned two top-10 players on his way to the last eight: Chuang Chih-yuan of Chinese Taipei (4-0) and Timo Boll of Germany (4-2). He also put up a brave fight against the world number one and eventual champion Ma Long of China, losing 0-4 but entertaining the crowd with some spectacular rallies.
Quadri’s performance in Rio earned him widespread acclaim and recognition, both at home and abroad. He was named the ITTF Star Player of the Year in 2016, and received a hero’s welcome when he returned to Nigeria. He also became an ambassador for his country, continent, and sport, inspiring many young players to follow his footsteps.
After Rio 2016, Quadri continued to excel at the highest level of table tennis, reaching new heights and breaking new records. In 2017, he became the first African player to win an ITTF World Tour title, when he triumphed at the Polish Open. He also reached the semi-finals of the Bulgaria Open and the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
In 2018, he achieved another milestone by becoming the first African player to be ranked in the top 20 in the world. He also won his first Commonwealth Games medal, a silver in the men’s singles, after losing to Gao Ning of Singapore in the final. He also defended his African title in Mauritius, beating Omar Assar of Egypt in the final. In 2019, he reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, matching his best result at the event. He also won his second ITTF World Tour title at the Portugal Open. He also retained his African title in Lagos, Nigeria, beating Saleh Ahmed of Egypt in the final.
In 2020, he qualified for his third Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 by virtue of his world ranking. He also moved to a new club, Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg, one of the top teams in the Russian league and Europe. He also showed his philanthropic side by donating equipment and support to young and para table tennis players in Nigeria. In 2021, he participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he reached the third round of the men’s singles event before losing to Gustavo Tsuboi of Brazil.
In 2022, he achieved another historic feat by becoming the first African player to be ranked in the top 10 in the world. He also reached the quarter-finals of the World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Houston, USA, where he lost to Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan.
In 2023, he retained his title in the men’s singles of the ITTF African Championships for the third time in a row, and the eighth time overall. He defeated Ahmed Saleh of Egypt in a convincing 4-0 win in the final match on Sunday, September 17, in Tunis, Tunisia12.
Quadri is not showing any signs of slowing down, as he continues to challenge himself and improve his game. He is currently ranked 16th in the world (as of August 2023), and is still the undisputed number one player in Africa. In addition to improving his world ranking, Aruna has enhanced his chances of securing a spot in the highly anticipated end-of-year tournament in Germany next month. The top 16 players in the world receive automatic qualifications for the prestigious Frankfurt elite tournament. He is also one of the most active and consistent players on the international circuit, participating in various events and tournaments. He has already set his sights on the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024, where he hopes to win a medal for Nigeria and Africa. He is also aiming to win more titles at the continental and global level, and to maintain his status among the elite players of table tennis.
He is also aware of his impact and influence on the lives of many people across the world, especially young and aspiring table tennis players. He is a role model and a mentor for many of them, providing them with guidance, support, and inspiration. He is also a humble and generous person, who gives back to his community and country through various initiatives and donations.
Quadri is a true legend of table tennis, who has made history and broken barriers for himself and for Africa in a sport often dominated by the Asians. He is a champion on and off the court, who has shown that nothing is impossible with hard work, self-confidence, and passion. He is a pride of Nigeria, Africa, and table tennis.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
