Reigning African table tennis champion, Quadri Aruna, is thrilled to have moved one step up in the current International Table Tennis Federation World Ranking for men’s singles, PUNCH Sports Extra report reports.
Aruna, who defeated Egyptian rival, Omaar Assar 4-3 in the keenly contested final at the ITTF competition in Algeria last week, is now ranked 14th in the world following his remarkable feat in the competition.
The 33-year-old amassed 500 points at the ITTF competition to unseat Tim Boll of Germany, who previously occupied the 14th spot.
Reacting to his upward ranking, Aruna said, “Indeed, it is a kind of consolation. I’m very happy, everything happens for a reason. I hope to improve on this. Algeria is a country I will never forget. It’s my first time there and I won, it will be an everlasting memory for me.”
Aruna’s countryman, Taiwo Mati, moved up 63 spots 91st in the ranking, his highest ever placing.
The 17-year-old, who reached the semi-finals of the men’s singles in Algiers, where he eventually lost to Aruna, chalked up 175 points at the competition.
He becomes the sixth top-ranked African player in the world, behind Aruna (14), Omar Assar of Egypt (22), Saleh of Egypt (66), Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal (72) and Mehdi Bouloussa of Algeria (86).
