Table Tennis
ARUNA QUADRI STUNS JAPANESE STAR TO HIT SEMIFINAL OF BULGARIA OPEN
Aruna Quadri stunned one of the most decorated Japanese stars in table tennis to reach the semifinal round of the ITTF World Tour tagged Bulgaria Open.
Being the last quarterfinal match in the men’s singles, the Bulgaria fans were treated to an exciting moment as there was an unbelievable scenes in Panagyurishte after the Nigerian hero knocks Japanese no.4 seed Jun Mizutani in a seven-game thriller.
The 2019 Nigeria Open champion expressed appreciation to the Bulgarian fans for their unrelenting support for him during the encounter.
Trailing 1-2 on games but Aruna Quadri is well known for his comebacks and his fighting spirit shone through on this occasion, saving two game points in game four before going on to recover from 4-9 down to win game five 11-9.
Mizutani responded well to claim game six, forcing a decider: 9-6 down Mizutani refused to give up the fight, going on to hold two match point opportunities.
However, Aruna Quadri showed nerves of steel, saving both points before going on to steal the win (8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11).
In earlier quarterfinal tie, Portuguese qualifier Marcos Freitas is through to the last four in Panagyurishte thanks to a fantastic victory over no.15 seed Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan.
At the start of play it was the Chinese Taipei player who looked good for the win, claiming the opening game by an eight-point margin but Freitas also enjoyed his spells of dominance over the course of the match.
Ultimately it was game seven that produced the main story: 6-7 down Freitas opted to call a timeout, a decision that proved useful as the Portuguese star fought back to win the decider 11-9 and earn his spot in the penultimate round (3-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-13, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9).
Japanese teenage sensation Tomokazu Harimoto takes his place in the semi-finals of the men’s singles draw following a tight affair with fellow Japanese compatriot Takuya Jin.
Down 3-0 on the scoreboard Jin needed to form a response and one did arrive with the qualifier pulling a game back.
Then in game five Jin held game point advantage on two occasions but failed to convert as top seed Harimoto held his nerve, sealing the win by a 4-1 margin (11-7, 11-6, 14-12, 7-11, 13-11).
German Dimitrij Ovtcharov’s men’s singles run has concluded in the quarter-finals stage in Panagyurishte after the second seed lost out to world no.110 China’s Zhao Zihao in an exciting battle.
The 22-year-old pen-hold grip player from China started strongly and deservedly gained a healthy 2-0 lead.
Up against the ropes Ovtcharov raised his performance, winning two of the next three games to reduce the deficit to 3-2. In game six the two players gave it their all but there could only be one winner and that proved to be Zhao Zihao (11-6, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9).
In the semifinal tie scheduled for Sunday August 18, Aruna Quadri will face China’s Zhao Zihao, while Portugal’s Marcos Freitas will take on Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has elected Dr. Adesoji Tayo as its new president following the conclusion of the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja on Saturday, October 4.
Dr. Tayo, who previously served as Vice President of the federation, succeeds Ishaku Tikon, whose eight-year tenure came to an end after steering the affairs of Nigerian table tennis through two terms.
Chairman of the Oyo State Table Tennis Association, Dr. Tayo emerged unopposed after his main challenger, Khamisu Ahmed from Gombe State, stepped down and was subsequently named the new Vice President.
With his election, Dr. Tayo joins the growing ranks of passionate table tennis enthusiasts who have taken leadership roles in the sport’s administration.
He is expected to bring renewed energy and direction to the NTTF over the next four years, building on the developmental strides achieved under his predecessor.
The new leadership is anticipated to focus on grassroots development, international competitiveness, and strengthening state associations to sustain Nigeria’s rich legacy in the sport.
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Following his last outing at the 2023 ITTF World Championships in Durban, South Africa, Taiwo Mati makes a return to Nigeria’s national team as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) announces a 10-man squad for the 2025 ITTF African Championships, scheduled to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from October 12 to 19.
The continental event serves as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom—a landmark edition marking the centenary of the World Championships, which will return to the city where it all began in 1926.
Mati, who plays professionally in Europe, earned his spot after a strong performance at the 2025 West Regional Championships, where he finished among the top four, edging out Muiz Adegoke.
He joins a formidable lineup that includes Africa’s top-ranked player, Quadri Aruna; 2019 African Games gold medalist, Olajide Omotayo; two-time West African champion, Matthew Kuti; and rising talent Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.
Despite being one of Africa’s standout performers at Durban 2023, Mati had been absent from the national team for two years.
His semifinal finish at the regional tournament in Lagos last July marked a successful comeback for the left-handed star.
The women’s team features promising young players, including Favour Ojo, Aishat Rabiu, Kabirat Ayoola, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan. Veteran Ajoke Ojomu will lead the squad as captain in Tunis.
NTTF Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, emphasized the importance of early exposure for young athletes:
“We believe that exposing these young players to top-tier competitions will help them grow stronger and more confident. Competing against Africa’s best will prepare them to face global opponents. Most elite players began early, and we want our talents to follow that path.
With guidance from experienced coaches like Segun Toriola and Dotun Omoniyi, we’re optimistic they’ll gain valuable experience and deliver strong performances,” he said.
Top-performing teams in both the men’s and women’s categories will earn qualification for London 2026, the sport’s most prestigious stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria and Egypt lead a competitive field that includes Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s competition will feature Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
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Africa’s table tennis powerhouses, Nigeria and Egypt, will lead the charge for qualification to the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom, as the continent’s top teams converge in Tunis, Tunisia, for the 2025 ITTF African Championships from October 12 to 19.
London 2026 marks a historic centenary celebration, returning the World Championships to the city where it all began in 1926. The Tunis tournament serves as the official African qualification event, with the top-performing men’s and women’s teams securing their place on the sport’s grandest stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria—West Africa’s dominant force—and Egypt—the North African powerhouse—will be joined by Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s field features Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
With London in sight, the battle for qualification will intensify during the final three days of the continental tournament, where all eyes will be on Nigeria and Egypt as they renew their storied rivalry.
According to the ITTF, London 2026 will feature 64 teams in both the men’s and women’s events—an expansion from the previous 40-team format. This growth reflects the global rise of table tennis and opens the door for more nations to compete at the highest level.
The tournament will unfold across two iconic London venues. The Copper Box Arena will host the opening rounds from April 28 to May 1, followed by the main draw at Wembley Arena from May 2 to 10, where the world’s elite will compete for the ultimate prize.
Each gender will see 64 teams divided into 16 groups of four, with round-robin matches determining progression. A key innovation in the format is the introduction of Stage 1a and Stage 1b:
Stage 1a features the top eight teams (seven highest-ranked plus host nation) split into two groups. All eight automatically advance, with group results determining seedings.
Stage 1b includes the remaining 56 teams across 14 groups. The 14 group winners and six best second-placed teams qualify directly. The remaining eight second-placed teams enter a preliminary knockout round, with four winners completing the 32-team main draw.
From the first serve at the Copper Box to the final point at Wembley, London 2026 promises to celebrate not only the present strength of global table tennis but also the remarkable journey that began in the same city a century ago.
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