Quadri Aruna will kick off his New Year campaign as the fifth seed at the WTT Star Contender Doha, which began on Wednesday with the main draw at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, Qatar.

Also, Egypt’s Dina Meshref will commence her quest for glory in the second round of the Women’s Singles against China’s Chen Yi. The 2024 Africa Cup champion is making a return to the international scene after excusing herself from the 2024 African Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Egypt’s Dina Meshref

Aruna, who started 2025 as the second highest-rated African, is ranked 21st in the latest ITTF rankings, just behind Egypt’s Omar Assar, who is ranked 18th in the world.

As one of the top-ranked players at the WTT Star Contender Doha, Aruna is seeded No. 5, following Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, Germany’s Dan Qui, Germany’s Patrick Franciska, and Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, who are the top four seeds in the Men’s Singles.

Doha has been a favorable venue for Aruna, as he reached the semifinal stage at the 2022 edition. He hopes to replicate or surpass that achievement this year.

As one of the top seeds and the only African competing in the Men’s Singles, Aruna has received a bye to the second round (round of 32), where he is expected to face the winner between England’s Liam Pitchford and Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko.

Meshref got a bye to the second round as the 16th seed in the Women’s Singles as she is hoping to break her losing streak against the Chinese players this year.

The Lusail Sports Arena sets the stage for the six-day event, starting with two days of qualifying action from January 6 to 7, followed by the main draw from January 8 to 11.

A total prize pool of $275,000 is at stake, and the WTT Star Contender Doha 2025 offers players a prime opportunity to gain significant points in the ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings.

The tournament also marks the return of former champions, including Tomokazu Harimoto, the winner of the first-ever WTT Star Contender Doha in 2021.

Seven-time event champion in the WTT Series, Hina Hayata of Japan, is another player looking to rekindle her past success in Doha.

Additionally, surprise packages from the 2022 event, Andrej Gacina and Miyuu Kihara, will also be returning.

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Hostilities commence on Friday, December 20, as the 2nd Daniel Ford Elite Youth Table Tennis Invitational Championships kick off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Following a successful two-day coaching clinic, players will put their new skills to the test. 2023 African Games gold medalist Matthew Kuti begins his quest to become the first player to win back-to-back titles at this tournament, organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and funded by UK-based Daniel Ford International.

Kuti, who has been in excellent form recently, will rely on his experience and exposure from several international tournaments this year, including the Africa Championships in Ethiopia. He anticipates stiff competition from perennial rivals like Muiz Adegoke and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.

The U-19 event promises excitement as Kuti faces a star-studded lineup of players over the two-day tournament. Determined not to let his guard down, Kuti is prepared to take on regular opponents, especially Muiz Adegoke, who might be paired with him in the doubles event.

Adegoke, who has yet to fulfill his potential at the national level, hopes to replicate his doubles success against the tournament’s top players. “I can’t wait to get on the table because this is not going to be a one-sided tournament. More young players are emerging from several continental tournaments in Botswana,” he said.

A determined Adegoke admitted he would elevate his game this year to challenge favorites like Kuti. “I am hoping to make it to the final this year, and anything can happen when I get there. It is not going to be easy because everybody is playing well, but I am confident I can turn the tide against anyone on the table,” he added.

For the national coach, Dotun Omoniyi, the staging of the clinic would make the tournament competitive this year as the players never hide their intention to humble one another.

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African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF-Africa) has entered into a Strategic Quadrennial Agreement (SQA) with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for the period 2025 to 2028. This partnership underscores a unified commitment to advancing table tennis in the continent of Africa.

The agreement, which promises enhanced funding, outlines collaborative efforts between ITTF Africa and ITTF to promote and develop table tennis in Africa.

The signing ceremony took place in Chengdu, China, with ITTF Africa President Wahid Enitan Oshodi and ITTF President Petra Sörling in attendance.

After formalizing the agreements, Oshodi stated, “The objectives outlined in the SQA align with the new vision and direction of ITTF Africa under my leadership. We will work closely with the ITTF to ensure these objectives are fully achieved in Africa.”

Sörling added, “The Strategic Quadrennial Agreement marks a pivotal moment for our global table tennis family. By aligning our efforts and resources with the unique needs and aspirations of Africa and its member associations, we can elevate the sport to new heights.

These agreements reflect our shared vision for excellence, development, and inclusivity in every corner of the world.”

The agreement aims to streamline cooperation between ITTF Africa and ITTF, focusing on key areas such as enhancing continental events to attract greater participation and visibility,

promoting grassroots development to nurture the next generation of talents, advancing the commercialization and professionalization of table tennis activities, fostering sustainability through environmentally conscious practices, strengthening governance structures for greater efficiency and accountability, and expanding social responsibility initiatives using table tennis as a tool for positive change.

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