TENNIS - Aruna Quadri wins first African men’s singles title

                                                  

Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri on Sunday won the Men’s Singles title at the 2018 ITTF African Championships in Mauritius, the first time in his career.

He defeated veteran and three time champion, Egypt’s Ahmed Ali Saleh (11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-1). The victory came  one month after he won the  2018 ITTF Challenge Seamaster Nigeria Open in Lagos. Aruna QUadri was a runner up at the same event two years ago .

“I am happy that I am winning this African Championships title for the first time particularly less than one month after I won the ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open in Lagos,” Aruna said during his post match interview.

“I am grateful to the Mauritian fans for their support throughout all my matches,” Aruna told reporters in Mauritius.

The 28 year old however set for himself a target of winning the All African Games table tennis title after his recent triumphs.

Quadri did not drop a point from the first round (round of 64) until the final when he defeated Saleh 4-1 to win his first African Championships title which he narrowly lost to Egypt’s Omar Assar in 2016.

“I think I have won virtually all the titles in Africa, the only one I am still hungry to win is the African Games title which I believe I will continue to work hard in order to win it next year in Morocco.”