Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna Becomes Africa’s No. 1 Table Tennis Star
Nigerian table tennis sensation Quadri Aruna has officially become Africa’s top-ranked player, overtaking Egypt’s Omar Assar in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings. The updated rankings saw Aruna rise from 19th to 18th place in the world, while Assar dropped from 17th to 19th.
Despite finishing as the runner-up at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup, Aruna’s strong performances at World Table Tennis (WTT) tournaments have significantly boosted his ranking. He remains the only African male player to reach the semi-finals of the WTT Contender Doha, achieving this feat in both 2023 and January 2024. Meanwhile, Denmark’s Jonathan Groth has moved up to 17th place, replacing Assar.
What’s Next for Aruna?
Aruna is set to compete in the WTT Contender Chennai in India from March 23 to 30, where another strong showing could further improve his world ranking.
On the women’s side, Egypt’s Hana Goda continues to dominate African table tennis, climbing one spot to 26th place, while her compatriot Dina Meshref holds steady at 33rd as Africa’s second-best female player.
Globally, China’s Wang Chuqin remains the world’s No. 2 male player, trailing only his compatriot Lin Shidong at No. 1. In the women’s category, Sun Yingsha retained her top position after successfully defending her WTT Champions Chongqing title.