Table Tennis
ARUNA QUADRI’S SWANSONG EARNS SPORTING 37TH TITLE IN PORTUGAL
It was an emotional feeling for Aruna Quadri during the final of the Portuguese national league final as the Nigerian played his last match for the team to claim its 37th title.
Quadri who joined the team in 2016 from GD Toledos was the cynosure of all eyes as fans and players hailed the Nigerian for his immense contribution to the team.
To win the fifth league title with Sporting, Quadri was full of appreciation to the team that he admitted has helped his career to glow.
Sporting CP won the fifth championship in a row and 37th national title on Sunday July 5, when they beat GD Toledos 3-0 in the 2nd leg of the final held at the High Performance Center of Vila Nova de Gaia, after repeating the same margin in the first leg on Saturday July 4.
From the 18 league matches played this season, Sporting were unbeaten dropping only five sets in all their matches to attain 70 points which is 22 more than second placed GD Toledos.
A delighted Quadri who will be moving to Germany next season described Portugal as a home away from home.
“After ten years in Portugal, it was time to leave for a championship with another level.
“I was very happy here, Portugal for me is almost the same as Nigeria and I will continue to live in Portugal because I have a family here. I will train a few times at Sporting for the year,”Quadri said.
For the final match against his former club, he said: ”It was a very difficult game particularly against my former team and mate, Diogo Silva, who is a player with a lot of talent.
“We played together for four years and it is always difficult to play against him.”
Also Quadri’s compatriot – Bode Abiodun admitted that it was a difficult match having returned to the game after several weeks of inactivity. “It was a very difficult game, but I am very satisfied with the victory and with another title, which was the main objective of the season.”
Portuguese international, Diogo Carvalho also spoke about the tie, “We managed to win another title for Sporting, which was our goal. The match with Énio was very tactical, because we know each other well, we played together for six years in Spain, so we know each other’s game.”
The coach of Sporting, Chen CP Shao, lauded the players. “This Championship final was complicated, with a long stop and now without the public at the stands. The players managed to show some quality, despite having been out for four months.”
For the President of Portugal Table Tennis Federation, Pedro Miguel Moura ending the league was a big achievement for the federation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This was a very special moment for the Portuguese Table Tennis Federation, I hope it is very special for the whole community.
“Although this is the end of the season, we start with the starting point of what will be the next months of table tennis in Portugal, with this new reality. It was a learning process to continue doing what we like, which is to practice table tennis.
“Train and compete within the rules of protection, with health. We will have been the first sport to compete in this phase of deflation so it is a very special moment for us.
“I would also like to leave a word to the club presidents, because they have offered to come here to dispute this final phase, and to the Federation staff, who have been tireless in these last two weeks. ”
Results
2nd Leg
GD Toledos, 0 – Sporting CP, 3
Énio Mendes, 1 – Diogo Carvalho, 3 (3-11, 3-11, 11-5, 5-11)
Diogo Silva, 1 – Aruna Quadri, 3 (11-5, 6-11, 7-11, 3-11)
Boboye Oyenyan, 0 – Bode Abiodun, 3 (8-11, 5-11, 8-11)
First Leg
Sporting CP, 3 – GD Toledos, 0
Aruna Quadri, 3 – Énio Mendes, 2 (11-4, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3)
Diogo Carvalho, 3 – Diogo Silva, 1 (13-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7)
Bode Abiodun, 3 – Boboye Oyenyan, 1 (11-8, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6)
Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Hana Goda are among the elite players set to compete at the WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025, taking place in Slovenia.
The WTT Star Contender Ljubljana 2025 boasts a prize pool of $300,000 and offers valuable ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points.
The singles champions will receive $17,000 and 600 points, while the doubles champions will take home $5,500 and 600 points.
This highly anticipated event, hosted at Hala Tivoli in Ljubljana, has attracted a star-studded lineup of table tennis greats.
Aruna, currently ranked 24th in the world and the highest-ranked African player, is seeded No. 14 in the men’s singles and has received a bye into the second round (last 32). He is expected to face the winner between Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and China’s Xu Haidong on Friday, June 20.
Similarly, Goda, seeded No. 15 in the women’s singles, also received a bye into the second round. She is set to face the winner between Japan’s Sakura Yokoi and South Korea’s Joo Cheonhui.
Some of the world’s best players will battle it out over five events in what promises to be a week-long table tennis spectacle.
Leading the charge in the men’s singles is Brazilian star and 2025 World Championships runner-up, Hugo Calderano.
Known as the “Thrill from Brazil,” Calderano returns to Slovenia with bold ambition, looking to defend his title from last year’s triumph.
Joining him are global heavyweights including Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, winner of the Men’s Singles title at WTT Star Contender Doha 2025; Felix Lebrun, champion at WTT Champions Montpellier 2024; and Slovenian home favourite Darko Jorgic.
In the women’s singles, Japan’s Miwa Harimoto headlines the field after claiming the title at WTT Star Contender Chennai 2025. Her compatriot Hina Hayata is also back to defend her title from last year’s Ljubljana tournament.
Other strong contenders include South Korea’s Shin Yubin, seeking her first WTT Star Contender title, as well as Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and China’s Qian Tianyi, both of whom are expected to make deep runs in the competition
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Participants in the table tennis event of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, will be vying for a total of 46 gold medals up for grabs.
The table tennis competition features athletes across three categories: able-bodied, para-athletes, and deaf athletes. Seven gold medals are available in the able-bodied category, while deaf athletes will contest for five gold medals. Para-athletes will compete for a whopping 34 gold medals across various events, including singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events.
In the able-bodied category, athletes will compete in singles (for men and women), doubles (for men and women), mixed doubles, and team events (for men and women). Deaf athletes will contest in singles (men and women), doubles (men and women), and mixed doubles.
Para-athletes will participate in four team events—men’s classes 1–5 and 6–10, and women’s classes 1–5 and 6–10. There will also be 18 singles events for men and women, eight doubles events, and four mixed doubles events.
Delta State dominates the seeding lists for both able-bodied and para-athlete categories. Fatimo Bello of Delta State is the top seed in the women’s singles, while Bayelsa’s Olajide Omotayo leads the men’s singles. Lagos and Oyo States top the seedings in the deaf singles events.
According to the tournament referee, Ranti Lajide, this year’s tournament promises to be thrilling, especially with the inclusion of Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“Lajide said: “We are going to witness top-class table tennis, especially from players who recently featured in the ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
“The knockout format of this year’s tournament will make it even more exciting and competitive. I hope we can conclude all matches before the closing ceremony on May 29,” Ranti said.
“The turnout of teams has been impressive, even from states that haven’t traditionally featured in the table tennis events of the NSF. Beyond the medals, I believe the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) will be able to discover new talents for future development,” he added.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The race for medals in the table tennis event of the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, kicks off on Saturday, May 24, at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
As one of the marquee events of Nigeria’s version of the Olympic Games, table tennis has drawn a large turnout of teams from across the country. Notably, foreign-based stars such as Olajide Omotayo, Azeez Solanke, and Taiwo Matti will be representing Bayelsa State, adding international flair to the competition.
Lagos State will be led by national champion Matthew Kuti and Muiz Adegoke, while strong contenders from Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, and Delta are also expected to make their mark.
According to an official from the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), the event was slightly delayed to allow the conclusion of the badminton competition, which shares the same venue.
“We’re expecting a more competitive tournament this year, with increased participation from teams that haven’t featured in recent editions. Some players are fresh from the ITTF World Championships in Doha, so fans should expect fireworks in the team, doubles, and singles events,” the official said.
Omotayo, currently Nigeria’s second-highest-ranked player globally, will face stiff competition from top home-based talents like Kuti, Adegoke, and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai. Kuti, one of the most consistent players on the national circuit, has dominated recent tournaments and is eyeing his first National Sports Festival title. Abdulfatai, fresh off a national tournament win in Osun, is also a strong contender in both singles and doubles.
Oyo State, under the guidance of Coach Dotun Omoniyi, will not be overlooked. The team features seasoned players like Akinwale Fagbamila and Joshua Olaniran, who bring experience and resilience to the Sunshine State’s campaign.
In the para table tennis event, all eyes will be on homeboy and Paris Paralympics bronze medalist, Isau Ogunkunle, who will be aiming to affirm his dominance in the Men’s Class 4 of the singles event, while Faith Obazuaye, a Commonwealth Games medalist will lead the Edo State contingent in the Women’s category.
From May 24 to 28, all eyes will be on the Alake Sports Centre as the table tennis event promises to unearth new stars and deliver thrilling action at this year’s multi-sport festival.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- OBITUARY2 days ago
BREAKING: Nigerian Goalkeeping Legend Peter Rufai is dead
- Nigerian Football2 days ago
Football Agent John Shittu Demands Retraction and ₦250 Million Damages from Samson Siasia Over Bribery Allegation
- WAFCON1 week ago
Super Falcons Land in Morocco, Eye Historic ‘La Decima’ Women’s AFCON Title
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Kwara United Clinch Historic First Title as President Federation Cup Final Goes to Penalties for the 18th time
- FEDERATION CUP1 week ago
Rivers Angels Crowned 2025 Female Federation Cup Champions After Penalty Shootout Thriller
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Peter Rufai looked lean when I last saw him, says mourning NFF President, Gusau
- OBITUARY2 days ago
Family issues statement on Peter Rufai
- IMMEMORIAL1 day ago
Peter Rufai’s Death Adds to Long List of July Tragedies in Nigerian Football