attles Portugal’s Freitas at ITTF World Cups
Quadri Aruna made a quick return to the top 20 in the latest ITTF Ranking released on Tuesday, April 16, by the world table tennis ruling body.
In the rating list made public by ITTF, the Nigerian gained three steps up the ranking to occupy 19th spot in the ranking. In the last two rankings, Aruna slid to 22 after missing the World Team Championships in Korea as well as the WTT Champions in Incheon but he has fought his way back to the elite rank of the rating.
African Games champion Omar Assar of Egypt also gained one step up the rating to be ranked 16 in the world.
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Also, Aruna started his campaign at the ITTF World Cups Macao 2024, on a good note with a 4-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6) convincing win over Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez to set the final group 15 tie against Portugal’s Marcos Freitas on Wednesday, April 17 at the Galaxy Arena.
Aruna occupied the top spot in the group as Freitas had earlier beaten Gonzalez 4-0 (17-15, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1) but the Nigerian had more points than the Portuguese to be rated number one in the group.
But the tie between Aruna and Freitas will decide the winner of the group who will then advance to the second stage (knockout) of the competition.
Speaking after winning his first match, Aruna said: “I’m very happy. It’s my third time here in Macao and it’s my first time winning a match here in Macao, so I feel very happy and excited,” he said.
Like Aruna, Assar started well in Group 16 with an overwhelming 4-0 win over Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan to set up a deciding group tie against Sweden’s Truls Moregard on Wednesday, April 17.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali and Yousra Helmy have exited the World Cups after losing their second group match of the competition.
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