Nigeria table tennis star, Aruna Quadri and other top players in Africa have been handed tough draws in the first round of the 2025 World Championships which will be played in Qatar from May 17 to 25.
Aruna will begin his campaign against Brazil’s Victor Ishiy in the men’s singles, just as his compatriot Olajide Omotayo will take on Brazil’s Leonardo Iizuka in the first round while Muiz Adegoke and Matthew Kuti will clash against Belgium’s Adrien Rassenfosse and Poland’s Samuel Kulczycki respectively.
Other fixtures involving African stars will see Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali take on Sweden’s Anton Kallberg; Omar Assar will slug it out against Croatia’s Frane Kojic; Benin Republic’s Kokou Fanny will face French sensation Alexix Lebrun; Tunisia’s Wassim Essid will clash against Spain’s Juan Perez among other fixtures.
In the women’s singles, Nigerian trio Hope Udoaka, Ajoke Ojomu and Fatimo Bello will battle Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi; Sally Moyland and India’s Manika Batra respectively.
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Egyptian duo Hana Goda and Dina Meshref will also take on New Zealand’s Jiamuwa Wu and Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova respectively.
The draw was held at the Mall of Qatar on Wednesday, April 30, setting the tone for a return to Doha, which made history by hosting the Middle East’s first World Championships in 2004.
African players will also compete in the doubles and mixed doubles events.
The tournament will be held at the Lusail Arena and Qatar University Sports Complex, marking a full-circle moment for Doha.
According to the ITTF, the 2025 edition promises unparalleled excitement with five events featuring the planet’s finest talents competing for glory.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
