Africa’s Numero Uno Quadri Aruna is being expected as one of the big stars that will ignite the 2023 edition of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Durban, South Africa between May 20 and 28.
In the list of confirmed players expected to compete for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles, Aruna has been listed among the top stars that will make a mark at the first WTTC in Africa in the last four decades.
Aruna stunned the world with his out-of-this-world performance at Houston 2021 in the United States when he wriggled his way into the quarterfinal after beating some of the finest players in the world on his way to the last eight.
Aruna’s profile continued to soar since his outing in Houston and he has been tipped as one of the African stars that can rub shoulders with the world’s best in Durban.
Specifically, The ITTF World Championships will provide an opportunity for the home fans to witness the top and rising stars of the continent, like Nigeria’s Aruna, Egypt’s trio of Dina Meshref, Omar Assar, and Hana Goda, who will be hoping to make a mark on the world stage, while their presence in this prestigious event is a testament to the growing popularity of table tennis in Africa.
Described as ITTF’s flagship event, which will take place at the Durban International Convention Centre, will feature 128 players in singles (Men and Women) and 64 pairs in each of the doubles competitions (Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles) competing in a straight knockout format with 2,000 World Ranking points for the champions.
Beside Aruna that will be leading African stars, other top players in the world will be in attendance, including, China’s quartet of Fan Zhendong, Sun Yingsha, Wang Chuqin and Wang Manyu; Japan’s duo of Tomokazu Harimoto, Mima Ito as well as Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.
However, the spotlight is not only on the established stars. This year’s event is an especially significant one for the African continent as it marks the return of the championship to Africa after 84 years. The last time the event was held in Africa was in Cairo, Egypt, in 1939.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
