Table Tennis: Aruna Quadri Retains Nigeria Open Title

Africa’s highest-ranked table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, has retained the Nigeria Open Men’s Singles title after defeating Austria’s Gardos Robert 4-2 on Sunday in Lagos.

Quadri, ranked number 22 in the world, went on a thrilling six games decider (15-13, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-1) to defeat world ranked number 64, Gardos, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

With his latest feat, Quadri has equalled the record hitherto solely held by Omar Assar; wining the Nigeria Open back-to-back.

Assar won Nigeria Open in 2014 and defended it in 2015 to become the only player to achieve the feat before Quadri did same on Sunday

Quadri won the tournament in 2018 and has successfully defended it in 2019.

He walked home with $7,000 for winning the 2019 championship.

Reacting to the victory, Quadri said he was happy to win the title again, adding that an injury almost discouraged him.