Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna has kicked off his 2025 ITTF World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Benin’s Abdel-Kader Salifou.
The match was a closely contested one, with both players showcasing their skills and determination.
Aruna, ranked 20th in the world, had to dig deep to secure the victory, particularly in the fourth game where Salifou led 8-6 before he rallied back to win 11-8.
“Getting a 2-0 lead gave me some confidence,” Aruna said after the match. “He came back strongly in the third and fourth games, but I stayed calm and held on. I am really happy and satisfied with my performance.”
The win sets Aruna up well for the rest of the tournament, as he looks to advance from the group stage in the revamped World Cup format. Salifou, despite the loss, showed impressive form and vowed to bounce back stronger in his next match.
In other matches, Egypt’s Hana Goda and Dina Meshref both secured wins in their respective matches, with Goda dominating Malaysia’s Seak Hui Li 4-0 and Meshref beating Zhu Chengzhu 3-1.
