Quadri Aruna faces another formidable challenge as he takes on Germany’s Richardo Walther on Wednesday in the second round of the Men’s Singles at the WTT Champions Frankfurt. 

The Nigerian, currently ranked world No. 21, made headlines by stunning world No. 8 Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan with a thrilling 3-2 comeback in his opening match at the Süwag Energie Arena.

Aruna’s victory over Harimoto marks his second win at the WTT Champions, following his first triumph at the WTT Champions Montpellier last week.

Meanwhile, Walther, making his debut at the WTT Champions, had a dream start by defeating Spain’s Alvaro Robles 3-0 (11-6, 12-10, 11-9) in the first round on Tuesday, November 5.

The upcoming match is set to be a familiar encounter, as Aruna and Walther have previously faced each other in the German Bundesliga.

 A win for Aruna would be historic, making him the first African male player to reach the quarterfinal stage of the WTT Champions, a feat achieved by Egypt’s Hana Goda in the women’s category at the WTT Champions Montpellier.

The clash promises to be explosive, with the world No. 60 Walther taking on the world No. 21 Aruna.

The home fans will undoubtedly support their local hero against the “adopted” Nigerian star, who has become a household name in Germany following his remarkable performance at the 2014 ITTF World Cup in Düsseldorf, where he became the first African to reach the quarterfinal stage.

Aruna’s success in the German Bundesliga has paved the way for many African players to join the lucrative league, and he remains a fan favourite across Germany.

However, the immense support Aruna receives against Harimoto might be less when he faces Walther in what promises to be a battle royale.

In other news, Egyptian teenager Hana Goda was eliminated in the first round of the Women’s Singles by her experienced Chinese opponent He Zhuojia, who won 3-1 (11-2, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4).

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna electrified the Süwag Energie Arena with a remarkable performance on the opening day of the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2024.

Aruna, ranked 21st in the world, pulled off a stunning 3-2 comeback victory against Japan’s No. 5 seed, Tomokazu Harimoto, with scores of (7-11, 11-13, 11-5, 14-12, 11-3).

This victory marked Aruna’s significant win of the day, thrilling the German fans with what can be described as one of his best displays in recent times. 

Despite Harimoto’s strong start, winning the first two games, Aruna’s resilience shone through. 

He fought back fiercely, much to the admiration of the crowd, and forced a decider.

In the fifth and final game, Aruna played with immense confidence and freedom, dominating the fast exchanges and shifting the momentum firmly in his favour. 

His powerful backhand at 10-3 sealed the match, earning him a place in the round of 16 and his second-ever match win at the WTT Champions level, following his first win in Montpellier last week.

Aruna’s never-say-die attitude and exceptional skill left the German fans cheering, as he continues to blaze a trail for African table tennis on the global stage.

Being their fifth meeting on the international stage, Harimoto had an edge with three wins, while Aruna had two victories.

In the round of 16, Aruna will face the winner between Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Germany’s Richardo Walther.

However, 2024 African Champion Omar Assar of Egypt failed to go beyond the first round of the Men’s Singles after losing to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-3), while his compatriot, Dina Meshref, who returned to international action in Frankfurt after missing the continental tournament in Ethiopia last month, fell to China’s Chen Xingtong 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-3) in the Women’s Singles.

On Tuesday, November 4, the first African to reach the quarterfinal of the WTT Champions, Hana Goda of Egypt will take on tournament’s wildcard He Zhuojia in the first round of the Women’s Singles.

$500,000 is on the table, with the singles champions each coming away with $30,000 and 1000 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised the election of Wahid Enitan Oshodi as the 6th President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday.

Oshodi, a former Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development, was unanimously elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the continental body held at the African Union (AU) headquarters.

The meeting was attended by 40 member nations of the ATTF, making Oshodi the second Nigerian to lead the continental sports body after Segun George, who served from 1988 to 1996.
“We are indeed proud of a true Lagosian who has continued to put Nigeria and Lagos on the world map through his sheer ingenuity in sports.

“His rising profile within and outside the continent has not come as a surprise, as he has shown to be a reliable hand when it comes to sports development.
“His keen interest in youth development has helped to unearth several stars like Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo.

“He is loved by the athletes and genuinely takes a special interest in their welfare. Since he left office as Commissioner, he has kept faith in sports, and this has been confirmed by his unanimous election in Addis Ababa,” said Governor Sanwo-Olu.
  Sanwo-Olu also pledged the state’s support to Oshodi and called on other Nigerians to support their compatriot, who has continued to make the country proud with his international acceptance.
  Oshodi’s journey in sports administration began in 2000 when he was appointed to the Lagos State Sports Council Governing Board under the administration of then-Governor Bola Tinubu.

 He later became the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA).
  Under Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, he was appointed Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development in 2011, where he supervised the National Sports Festival, tagged: “Eko 2012”.
   He was subsequently elected President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), where he brought vibrancy to the sport, unearthing international stars for the country.
   Recognised by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Oshodi was appointed Chairman of its Nomination Committee.

 In 2019, he was elected Deputy President of the ATTF, and in 2021, he topped the voting for the post of Executive Vice President of the ITTF, beating candidates from China and Europe.

 His ingenuity in sports administration has made Nigeria a hub for table tennis.
With his election, Oshodi is currently the only Nigerian presiding over a continental sports body.