Aruna Quadri Advances to Last 16 in Saudi Smash, Faces Korean Opponent.
Nigerian table tennis star Aruna Quadri has reached the men’s singles round of 16 in the World Table Tennis Saudi Smash 2024, taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Quadri came from behind to defeat South Korea’s Lee Sang Su 3-2 in a thrilling round of 32 match at the King Abdullah Sports City Infinity Arena on Monday.
The win sets up a potentially exciting clash with 21-year-old Cho Dae-seong, ranked 45th in the world, who will be seeking to avenge his compatriot’s defeat.
He had earlier beaten India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta 3-2 in a come-from-behind victory, showcasing his determination and skill.
Quadri’s impressive performance has earned him praise from Nigerian women’s table tennis legend Funke Oshonaike, who cheered him on and shared her excitement on social media.
“What a match between the experienced legend Achanta and our own Quadri Aruna! I was so tensed because Achanta was leading 2-0. Aruna eventually won 3-2. Yesssssssss!” Oshonaike said.
Quadri himself shared his experience in the match, saying, “It was really difficult to come back from 0-2 down. I was 8-2 up in the first game and 9-5 up in the second set, but I lost both.
I almost gave up, but I told myself not to. The spirit of never giving up made the difference. In the end, I was very happy to win.”
The $2 million prize money Saudi Smash 2024 is the sixth tournament of the WTT Series 2024, running from May 1 to May 11 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.