Table Tennis
CHINESE STAR STINGS ARUNA QUADRI OUT OF BUDAPEST TABLE TENNIS
Africa’s sole survival in the men’s single, Aruna Quadri could not find the solution to the ferocious shots of China’s Fan Zhendong in the third round of men’s singles at the 2019 ITTF World Championships holding in Budapest, Hungary.
Despite a good start from the African champion,
the world number one Chinese could not withstand losing the first game and he
leveled up at 9-9 to end the
encounter at 12-10.
But the Nigerian was no match to the Asian giant
in the second and third games with the Chinese winning 11-2, 11-6.
Aruna Quadri made an attempt to rally back into
the game in the fourth game and he started leading just like he did in the
first game but the super finish of Fan Zhendong again came to fore as he
leveled up against to win at 11-9. The match ended 4-0
(12-10, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9) in favour of the Chinese star.
However, the fans at the Hungexpo Hall applauded
the Nigerian for his good display against the best table tennis player in the
world.
For Aruna Quadri, making the last 32 of the
world championship is another feat as the Nigerian has never gone beyond the
second since he made his debut at Zagreb 2007 in Croatia.
And the Nigerian was disappointed for not
winning a game against the Chinese, while hoping for better ranking when the
new ranking is released next week.
The tournament enters the last 16 stage as
Brazil’s Hugo Calderano became the first player outside Europe and Asia to make
it to the last 16 of the competition in the last five decades.
The Brazilian defeated his Indian counterpart to berth in the last 16 and set up a tie against defending champion – China’s Ma Long.