How Nigerian Star Aruna Exited World Table Tennis Championship

Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna has suffered a tough defeat at the WTT Champions Chongqing 2025, exiting the tournament in the round of 32.

Aruna faced world number two, Wang Chuqin of China, who dominated the WTT round of 32 match with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday.

The match was held at the Infinity Arena in Huaxi, a venue known for major competitions. Aruna, currently ranked 19th in the world, struggled to match Wang’s skill and experience. The Chinese player secured the win with scores of 11-6, 13-11, and 11-7.

Despite putting up a strong fight, particularly in the second game where he forced a deuce, Aruna couldn’t overcome Wang’s precision and strategy. The Nigerian managed only 24 points in total, while Wang secured 35. On his own serve, Aruna scored just 14 points compared to Wang’s 10, further highlighting the Chinese player’s dominance.

Wang controlled the game with an aggressive style, at one point leading by five points and stringing together five consecutive points. This match was the first time Aruna and Wang met in the WTT series, but Aruna struggled to use his experience to his advantage. Playing against a home favorite with a supportive crowd added to the challenge.

Aruna’s loss is part of a larger trend of difficulties faced by African players at the WTT. His continental rival, Omar Assar of Egypt, ranked 17th in the world, was also eliminated in straight games (3-0) by Germany’s Dang Qiu, who holds the ninth position. In the women’s singles category, Egypt’s Dina Meshref, ranked 33rd, was defeated 3-1 by South Korea’s Kim Nayeong, ranked 39th.

Before the WTT, Aruna had high hopes after finishing as runner-up at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup in Tunisia, where he lost narrowly to Assar. However, his journey in Chongqing ended early due to Wang’s exceptional performance.

The WTT Champions Chongqing 2025, running from March 11 to 16, features 32 of the world’s best players in both men’s and women’s singles categories. With a prize pool of $800,000, the competition remains intense under its signature purple lighting.

With Aruna out, African hopes at the WTT now rest on Egypt’s Hana Goda. The 17-year-old is set to face South Korea’s Shun Yubin on Thursday. After reclaiming her ITTF Africa Cup title with a 4-2 comeback win against Meshref, she aims to break her streak of early exits and make a deep run in the tournament.
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