Table Tennis
Aruna, Assar get tough opponents at ITTF World Cups
Nigeria’s sole flagbearer at the ITTF World Cups Macao 2024, Quadri Aruna has been drawn in Group 15 of the men’s singles as the Nigerian will slug it out against Portugal’s Marcos Freitas and Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez. Egypt’s Omar Assar has also been handed a tough task of progressing from the group.
The 48 players have been drawn into 16 groups of three players in each group with the winner in each group advancing to the second stage of the competition.
Aruna who has been regular face at the ITTF World Cups remains the first and only African to have reached the quarterfinal stage of the $1m prize money tournament and he is expected to begin his campaign against Portugal’s Freitas on Monday, April 15 while his last group match will be on Tuesday, April 16 against Puerto Rico’s Gonzalez.
Also, Egypt’s trio of Omar Assar, Ahmed Saleh and Mohamed El-Beiali have been drawn into group 16, 11 and nine respectively.
African Games champion Assar will slug it out against Sweden’s Truls Moregard and Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan.
Egyptian veteran Saleh has been handed a tough group 11 as he will battle former European champion Dan Qui of Germany and Japan’s Shunsuke Togami. El-Beiali who is debuting at the ITTF World will jostle for top spot against Korea’s Jang Woojin and France’s Simon Gauzy in group nine.
Also, three Egyptians and a Cameroonian will represent Africa in the women’s singles as Yousra Helmy, Hana Goda and Mariam Alhodaby will campaign in group nine, 12 and 11 while Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou will compete in 11 alongside Korea’s Joo Cheonhui and Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi.
According to ITTF, top seed Wang Chuqin of China is set to commence this inaugural Men’s World Cup campaign against Kirill Gerassimenko and An Jaehyun in Group 1. With flawless head-to-head records against both opponents (2:0 against Gerassimenko and 5:0 against An), Wang appears to have a favourable path to progress to the next stage. With two previous titles in Macao at the WTT Champions Macao 2023 and 2022, Wang is setting the stage for an impressive performance next week that is sure to delight fans.
The defending champion, Fan Zhendong, will embark on his title defense against Wong Chun Ting and Benedikt Duda. With an impressive 16-match win streak, Fan aims to continue his momentum by securing his 17th and 18th victories early in the tournament. Recently claiming the WTT Feeder Varazdin 2024 title and a Mixed Doubles ticket to the Paris Olympic Games, Wong is currently in top form and will pose quite a challenge to the World No. 2.
In the Women’s Singles, top seed Sun Yingsha faces her initial challenges in Group 1 against Chen Szu-Yu and Zhu Chengzhu. Having encountered both opponents multiple times and emerging victorious in each encounter, Sun’s campaign in the World Cup is expected to commence without major obstacles. Nonetheless, given the new four game format, the outcome on the table remains unpredictable, leaving room for any player to seize victory.
In Group 4, defending champion Chen Meng will confront Sreeja Akula and Natalia Bajor as she strives to reclaim her title. This encounter will represent the first meeting between the 2020 Women’s World Cup winner and either Akula or Bajor. Notably, Akula and Bajor have only faced each other once before in 2019, where Akula emerged victorious with a narrow 4-3 margin.
2016 Women’s World Cup winner, Miu Hirano will kick off her 2024 World Cup run facing off Jia Nan Yuan and Jocelyn Lam in Group 14. A sense of intrigue surrounding this group, this will mark the first encounter for any of these players on the international stage.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has elected Dr. Adesoji Tayo as its new president following the conclusion of the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja on Saturday, October 4.
Dr. Tayo, who previously served as Vice President of the federation, succeeds Ishaku Tikon, whose eight-year tenure came to an end after steering the affairs of Nigerian table tennis through two terms.
Chairman of the Oyo State Table Tennis Association, Dr. Tayo emerged unopposed after his main challenger, Khamisu Ahmed from Gombe State, stepped down and was subsequently named the new Vice President.
With his election, Dr. Tayo joins the growing ranks of passionate table tennis enthusiasts who have taken leadership roles in the sport’s administration.
He is expected to bring renewed energy and direction to the NTTF over the next four years, building on the developmental strides achieved under his predecessor.
The new leadership is anticipated to focus on grassroots development, international competitiveness, and strengthening state associations to sustain Nigeria’s rich legacy in the sport.
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Following his last outing at the 2023 ITTF World Championships in Durban, South Africa, Taiwo Mati makes a return to Nigeria’s national team as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) announces a 10-man squad for the 2025 ITTF African Championships, scheduled to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from October 12 to 19.
The continental event serves as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom—a landmark edition marking the centenary of the World Championships, which will return to the city where it all began in 1926.
Mati, who plays professionally in Europe, earned his spot after a strong performance at the 2025 West Regional Championships, where he finished among the top four, edging out Muiz Adegoke.
He joins a formidable lineup that includes Africa’s top-ranked player, Quadri Aruna; 2019 African Games gold medalist, Olajide Omotayo; two-time West African champion, Matthew Kuti; and rising talent Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.
Despite being one of Africa’s standout performers at Durban 2023, Mati had been absent from the national team for two years.
His semifinal finish at the regional tournament in Lagos last July marked a successful comeback for the left-handed star.
The women’s team features promising young players, including Favour Ojo, Aishat Rabiu, Kabirat Ayoola, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan. Veteran Ajoke Ojomu will lead the squad as captain in Tunis.
NTTF Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, emphasized the importance of early exposure for young athletes:
“We believe that exposing these young players to top-tier competitions will help them grow stronger and more confident. Competing against Africa’s best will prepare them to face global opponents. Most elite players began early, and we want our talents to follow that path.
With guidance from experienced coaches like Segun Toriola and Dotun Omoniyi, we’re optimistic they’ll gain valuable experience and deliver strong performances,” he said.
Top-performing teams in both the men’s and women’s categories will earn qualification for London 2026, the sport’s most prestigious stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria and Egypt lead a competitive field that includes Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s competition will feature Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
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Africa’s table tennis powerhouses, Nigeria and Egypt, will lead the charge for qualification to the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom, as the continent’s top teams converge in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 2025 ITTF African Championships from October 12 to 19.
London 2026 marks a historic centenary celebration, returning the World Championships to the city where it all began in 1926. The Tunis tournament serves as the official African qualification event, with the top-performing men’s and women’s teams securing their place on the sport’s grandest stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria—West Africa’s dominant force—and Egypt—the North African powerhouse—will be joined by Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s field features Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
With London in sight, the battle for qualification will intensify during the final three days of the continental tournament, where all eyes will be on Nigeria and Egypt as they renew their storied rivalry.
According to the ITTF, London 2026 will feature 64 teams in both the men’s and women’s events—an expansion from the previous 40-team format. This growth reflects the global rise of table tennis and opens the door for more nations to compete at the highest level.
The tournament will unfold across two iconic London venues. The Copper Box Arena will host the opening rounds from April 28 to May 1, followed by the main draw at Wembley Arena from May 2 to 10, where the world’s elite will compete for the ultimate prize.
Each gender will see 64 teams divided into 16 groups of four, with round-robin matches determining progression. A key innovation in the format is the introduction of Stage 1a and Stage 1b:
Stage 1a features the top eight teams (seven highest-ranked plus host nation) split into two groups. All eight automatically advance, with group results determining seedings.
Stage 1b includes the remaining 56 teams across 14 groups. The 14 group winners and six best second-placed teams qualify directly. The remaining eight second-placed teams enter a preliminary knockout round, with four winners completing the 32-team main draw.
From the first serve at the Copper Box to the final point at Wembley, London 2026 promises to celebrate not only the present strength of global table tennis but also the remarkable journey that began in the same city a century ago.
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