Nigeria Reclaims Men’s Throne In Table Tennis At All African Games As Egypt Retains Women’s Title

With much efforts and a lot of tactical discipline, Egypt defeated Nigeria to retain the women’s team title at the 2015 African Games.

It was two wins from Dina Meshref and a win from Nadeen El-Dawlatly that salvaged the victory for Egypt in an epic final.

Also, veteran Segun Toriola turned back the clock when he recorded an emphatic victory over Mohamed El-Beiali and Omar Assar to help Nigeria reclaim the men’s team throne ahead of the North Africans. Since the tournament began, Toriola remained unbeaten with this needed victory for Nigeria.

“This is not the first time I will be playing the deciding match but my coach told me to concentrate. But I must say it was more difficult for me in the match. I remained focus and I am happy that I won the match for my country. I feel good winning the title again and I am now strong mentally,” said elated EL-DAWLATLY Nadeen.

Dina MESHREF, Egypt

Meshref Dina added: “I am very proud that we won the title this year because looking at the roll of honours, Nigeria has won the African Games title more than any country in Africa. So I am very happy that we were able to retain the title we won four years ago in Mozambique. This goes to show the Egypt is improving and our generation has really worked hard for this success.”

Segun Toriola explaining a point to Nigerian teammates

On the victory over Egypt, Toriola said: “I think the competition just started with this victory because we still have five medals to fight four. But prior to the match I told my teammates that we should have confidence even when we were down 2-1. I knew that if I had to beat Omar Assar I need to be confident and not to play with any caution. If I am too conscious I will make mistakes against Omar. I think it was the confidence in the team that gave us the victory.”

Aruna Quadri

For the 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri, it was a sweet victory. “In our last meeting he defeated me but I could remember that I had also beaten him twice. But today I found an answer to him because we play the same style and he believes my style suits him. I am so grateful to God that I was able to find an answer to Mohammed El-Beiali tonight. This is a big victory for our country after our women’s team narrowly lost to Egypt earlier,” Quadri said.

Nigeria’s Quadri Inspires GD Toledos To Lift Portuguese Cup

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri helped GD Toledos to retain this year’s Portuguese table tennis Cup concluded at the weekend in Porto.

Quadri, who was bundled out in the quarterfinal of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championship in Cairo, Egypt last month was in superb form at the two-day tournament without dropping a match.

Playing from the preliminary stage to the semifinal, Quadri supported by his Portuguese teammates showed class and this was reflected in their semifinal tie against Juncal, a match which they won 3-0.

However, they were faced with a Herculean task in the final as they were pitched against fans’ favourite, Sporting Lisbon.

Aruna Quadri with GD Toledos teammates after the Portuguese Cup title

As the biggest of their campaign in the tournament, Quadri team once again rose to the occasion despite dropping a game, they ensured that the cup remained with GD Toledos, as they won 3-1 to win the title for the third consecutive times.

An excited Quadri believes the success would surely spur him on for this week’s Kuwait Open.

“I feel so great winning the title again and team work materialized in delivering the Portuguese Cup once again. I have won the title thrice in a row and retaining the title again has increased my confidence for Qatar and Kuwait Opens.

I think this weekend matches in the Portuguese Cup has prepared for the next coming pro tours due to the fact that I played some tough matches,” he enthused.

Meanwhile, the defeat suffered in the men’s singles at the ITTF Africa Senior Championship held in Egypt has adversely affected the fortune of the ITTF Star Player in the February world rating released by the world table tennis ruling body at the weekend.

Aruna Quadri with GD Toledos teammates after the Portuguese Cup title

For bowing to Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali, Quadri dropped from 30 to 32 in the latest ranking while his conqueror improved in his rating from 195 to 179 in the world.

Also, for emerging as winner of the ITTF Africa Senior Championship, Egypt’s Omar Assar is ranked 43; a position which exceeds his previous best of 57 in July 2013.

The Oyo State-born athlete admitted that the slide in his world rating would help him to continue to work hard.

“My ranking going down is a wake-up call although I felt disappointed and at the same time I am happy that I gained more additional point to my ranking bonus points. It is a sign that I must work harder than before and I am finally happy that African is having two players in top 50 with Egypt’s Omar Assar now rated 43,” he said.

Aruna Quadri with GD Toledos teammates after the Portuguese Cup title

As the Kuwait Open, one of major series in the ITTF World Tours serves off on Wednesday February 11; Quadri will be campaigning from the qualifiers as the world’s top 16 will be competing from the main draw having been seeded by the organizers of the championship.

However, the 26-year-old Nigerian says he would be happy to exceed his previous outing at the tournament in Kuwait.

“I will be very happy if I can surpass my last year’s performance in the pro tour. I never qualified to the main draw in any major series of the ITTF World Tour and I will be glad if I can break that record in Kuwait and Germany Opens this year,” he added.

ITTF Africa Senior Championship: ITTF Hails Quadri Over Conduct After Surprised Defeat In Cairo

ITTF

For his sportsmanship conduct after his quarterfinal loss to Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali in the men’s singles event of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championship, the world table tennis governing body, ITTF has described Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri as a perfect example for the game globally.

ITTF Publication Editor, Ian Marshall, said despite the narrow loss to the Egyptian, he exhibited maturity, which he described as an advantage to the sport worldwide.

“I am really thrilled with the way the young Nigeria conducted himself. It is usual with anybody that loses a crucial match to be angry. But despite his close defeat in the men’s singles, he found a place in his heart to hug his opponent in spite of the wild jubilation among the Egyptians. Even this is not even common with the best players in the world. But what Quadri has shown tonight really says a lot about him as an athlete. This is indeed a plus to table tennis,” Marshall said.

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri

Even some of the Egyptians present during the epic encounter were thrilled by the Nigerian, whom they described as a true champion.

Baseem Mohammed said: “I am touched by Quadri’s loss despite being an Egyptian because he played and fought like a true champion. When he lost the first two games, you will never notice in his face that he was losing. He just focused on the match and had to level up to make it 2-2. If it had been other players, they would have given up and get frustrated during the match. But he was calm and was doing as if the game was 0-0. I am happy that it was my compatriot that won, but the manner in which Quadri approached the match showed that he is a good player and a well-cultured individual off the table. Some of us were moved by the way he went ahead and congratulated his opponent and also shook hands with the officials. This is a rare trait of a champion. For me, Quadri is a complete player that should be emulated by upcoming athletes not only in table tennis but in all sports,” the North African admitted.