Nigerian table tennis stars Aruna Quadri and Omotayo Olajide have advanced to the semifinals of the men’s singles event at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup, currently underway at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
In an impressive display of skill and determination, both Quadri and Olajide secured victories in their respective quarter-final matches on Monday, solidifying their positions as contenders for the prestigious title.
Quadri delivered a dominant performance against Tunisia’s Essid Wassim, triumphing with a commanding 4-0 victory.
Despite facing a few challenges in the early stages of the match, the number-one seeded player showcased his prowess to claim victory with scores of 14-12, 11-8, 11-9, and 11-8. He is now set to face Egypt’s Abdel-Aziz Youssef in the first semifinal on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Olajide demonstrated his exceptional form by defeating Cameroon’s Batix Ylane with a score of 4-1.
The 2019 African Games gold medalist displayed remarkable consistency, winning the first three sets comfortably before eventually sealing the match with scores of 11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, and 15-13. Olajide will now square off against Egypt’s El-Beiali Mohamed in the next round.
In the women’s singles event, Nigerian player Edem Offiong also advanced to the semifinals after a convincing 4-0 victory over Cameroon’s Boateye Joanita.
Offiong’s exceptional performance sets the stage for an exciting semifinal clash against Dina Meshref, an eight-time champion of the competition.
However, Fatimo Bello’s journey in the tournament came to an end following a quarter-final defeat to Egypt’s Hana Goda.
As the ITTF Africa Cup progresses towards its conclusion on Tuesday, the Nigerian contingent continues to demonstrate its strength and determination on the international stage.
