Quadri Aruna will expectedly make his third appearance at the 2023 edition of the mouth-watering WTT $340,000 prize money championship holding in Doha, Qatar between January 3 and 5.
The Nigerian is the only African player to have featured in the WTT Finals since its launch in 2021,
Aruna’s best outing at the WTT Finals was in his maiden outing when he beat the then world number six Liang Jingkun of China to qualify for the quarterfinal but was beaten by Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.
In 2023, Aruna made a jaw-dropping win at Singapore Smash, defeating Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan for the first time in his career in what was one of the matches of the season.
Yet to move beyond the quarterfinals in the WTT Series this year, Aruna will need to bring the same form shown in the Lion City if he is to challenge for the title at the ultra-modern Lusail Sports Arena in Doha.
Considered the lowest ranked player among the competitors in Doha, the Nigerian is hoping to start the year on a good note in his quest to make his fourth Olympic Games appearance in Paris, France later in the year.
For now, the 2023 African Champion is yet to pick his ticket to Paris 2024 while he hopes to shore up his world ranking in his bid to qualify through his world rating to Paris 2024.
In Doha, the Nigerian will face a Herculean task against some of the finest players in the world including former world and Olympic champion Ma Long of China as well as French teenage sensation Felix Lebrun.
The draws for the tournament take place on Tuesday January 2 while the top seeds will square up against the likes of Aruna in the first round (round of 16) on Wednesday January 3.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
