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2023 World Championship Finals will be held from May 20 to 28, the first time Africa will host after 84 years.
Ahead of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Championship finals in Durban, South Africa, Nigerian players know their opponents.
Pulse Sports reported that the 2023 World Championship Finals will be held from May 20 to 28, the first time Africa will host after 84 years.
Africa's medal hopeful, Aruna Quadri, has been drawn against Romanian, Ovidiu Ionescu, in the preliminary round of the men’s singles.
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After losing at the recently concluded ITTF Africa Cup in Kenya, Quadri, the top-ranked African player and 12th in the world, would be eager to advance in the competition.
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20:43 - 07.05.2023
ITTF President pledges support for table tennis in Africa
Sorling hailed Kenya Table Tennis for the successful hosting of the Africa Cup.
The 34-year-old believes that holding the tournament in Africa after 84 years will motivate upcoming athletes from the region. He lost the men's singles final 4-1 in a best-of-seven match to Egypt's Omar Assar at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani indoor Gymnasium on May 6.
He has a potential matchup with Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan in the quarterfinals, while he dispatched the fourth seed with ease at the Singapore Smash 2023.
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09:17 - 05.05.2023
Offiong Edem set to organize a mini-table tennis tournament for children
The mini-table tennis tournament is for children between the ages of seven and 15 drawn from five states.
In other fixtures, Bode Abiodun will face Ruwen Filus from Germany, Taiwo Mati will battle Lubomir Jancarik for a place in the round of 64.
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In the women’s category, former African champion and seven time Olympian Olufuke Oshonaike, was paired with Charlotte Lutz from the US, while Offiong Edem will take Zhu Chengzhu, and Fatimo Bello will battle against Liopa Santhy.
Quadri Aruna to use World Championships to inspire young players
Aruna, who has tirelessly been putting the sport on the map in his home continent, says it is an honor to represent Nigeria and Africa in every table tennis event, let alone the World Championships.
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He said, “It’s significant that the World Championships are being held here in Africa. It’s a platform to show Africans the thrill of the sport, to inspire young players, and to get more fans. This is a positive step forward towards having more people love the sport and want to be part of it.”
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