Quadri Aruna Powers On in Doha, Becomes Africa’s Last Man Standing at 2025 ITTF World Championships

With unyielding spirit and world-class finesse, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has kept Africa’s table tennis dream alive at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar. On a day when many African contenders exited the stage, Aruna stood tall, battling his way into the third round of the Men’s Singles—solidifying his place as Africa’s enduring force in global table tennis.

A Lone Warrior for the Continent
As the tournament entered its third day, African hopes were fading fast—until Aruna delivered a gripping 4-2 victory over Norway’s Borgar Haug in a fiercely contested duel at Qatar University. Though ranked lower, Haug brought his A-game, turning the clash into one of the most exciting matches of the day.

With African Table Tennis Federation President Wahid Enitan Oshodi in attendance, Aruna showed why he remains a beacon of excellence for the continent. The sets were a rollercoaster: Aruna took the first 11-7, dropped the second 3-11, then alternated wins with Haug in the third and fourth. But it was Aruna’s explosive serves and clutch performance in pressure moments that tipped the balance.

The decisive sixth set had fans on edge. Tied at 10-10, Aruna’s poise and experience shone through as he snatched the next two points to clinch the set 12-10—and the match, 4-2. With this win, Aruna became the last African man standing in the singles event.

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna

More African Highlights: Ups and Downs

• Egypt’s Omar Assar narrowly missed out on progressing, falling 4-3 to Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in a nail-biting seven-set thriller.

• Hanitra Raharimanana, the breakout star from Madagascar, saw her fairytale run end with a 4-0 loss to Germany’s Sabine Winter. Still, her performance turned heads and put Madagascar on the global map.

• In the Mixed Doubles, it was a mixed day indeed. Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo and Kabirat Ayoola bowed out to South Korea, while Egypt’s Youssef Abdelaziz and Mariam Alhodaby stormed into the third round with a confident 3-1 win over Italy.

Next Up: Familiar Foe Awaits
Aruna will now face Germany’s Benedikt Duda, a familiar opponent on the international scene. Their upcoming showdown promises fireworks, with a place in the Round of 16 up for grabs.

Africa’s Fight Continues
As the continent’s hopes rest on his shoulders, Quadri Aruna is proving that African excellence belongs on the global stage. His blend of experience, resilience, and unmatched skill keeps Africa in the game—and fans around the world watching closely.

Written by Boom RadioNG