Before departing for the Tokyo Olympics, Africa’s number one ping ponger, Aruna Quadri was not only optimistic of returning with a medal but vowed to end the dominance of the Chinese. It was however not to be as the Nigerian failed to replicate his Rio feat where he booked a quarter final berth
When Aruna Quadri became the first African Ping Ponger to play in the quarter finals of the Olympics at the Rio edition of the quadrennial event, many followers of the game back home felt it was just a matter of time before the German-based player establish his dominance in the competition.
Instead, he was bundled out in the third round by Brazilian Gustavo Tsuboi.
The Team Nigeria’s Captain has lamented his ouster from the Tokyo Olympics, saying he had disappointed Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, who deserves more for his efforts in turning Nigerian sports around.
Much was expected from the Nigerian but he succumbed to the Brazilian who was ranked lower than him
“Without doubt, Sports Minister Dare has done a lot to change our sports and athlete’s welfare in his short time in charge. His adopt-an-athlete initiative has impacted so much on many athletes. I feel disappointed I could not get a medal to say thank you,” Quadri lamented at the Games Village Mixed Zone in Tokyo shortly after his exit.
Continuing he said: “If I’m to say the truth, the Sports Minister has done very well. I have played at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Africa Games. During this short time, he has taken charge, Chief Dare has done what no minister in the past has done. I feel disappointed,” Quadri said genuinely.
He however confessed that his Brazilian opponent was better than him. “That’s sports for you. I am a better player than him in ranking but he played very much better to win. You know anyone in top 100 can spring a surprise at any time. I did not underrate him because we play in Bundesliga and I know what he’s capable of doing.”
He however insisted that getting ousted from the Olympic was not the end of his career.
“It’s not the end of life. We’ll continue to work to see what will happen in future.”
Meanwhile, Quadri’s exit in the third round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Male’s single table tennis event has dampened the morale of Team Nigeria for successful outing at the Games.
After the trio of Funke Oshonaike, Jide Omotayo and Offiong Edem crashed from the table tennis events, as well as the early elimination of the country’s athletes from rowing, gymnastics, taekwondo and badminton events, all eyes were on Aruna, seeded among the top 15 players in the Tokyo Games and the highest rated African in the world, to lift Team Nigeria’s spirit for medals chase ahead of the athletics event kicking off yesterday.
But the 2016 Rio Olympics quarterfinalist bowed out of the competition despite that Quadri started the game on a bright note winning the first set 15-13, he lost in the latter sets as it ended 4-2 in favour of Tsuboi.
Following the shock elimination of the Team Nigeria captain, one of Nigeria’s star athletes and medal prospects, Ese Brume, urged Nigerians to keep praying for the team.
“I’m praying and hoping for God. Let’s keep praying,” she simply said.
Before jetting out to Tokyo, the 32-year-old, who secured the qualification by virtue of his position on the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Olympic qualification ranking, disclosed that he hopes to be “lucky” to stop the domination of China at the games.
China has established itself as a powerhouse in the sport, winning all the table tennis events at the last three Olympics to emphasise its hegemony.
Quadri said he has what it takes to pull a surprise on the Chinese participants in Tokyo.
“Table tennis is the number one sport in China. They put a lot of money into the sport, and they have the best coaches who understand the game,” he said.
“But I think it is possible to pull a surprise in Tokyo. My target is to win a medal, and I hope to be lucky.”
Tokyo is Quadri’s third Olympics, having represented the country in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
In Brazil, he defeated Chuang Chih-yuan, the then 5th seed, in four straight sets before edging Timo Boll, a renowned German player, 4-1.
He was, however, stopped by Ma Long, the eventual winner, in the quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Omar Assar has equaled Quadri’s Olympic Games record as the second African player to reach the quarterfinal stage of the men’s singles table tennis event at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
