Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has closed out 2025 as the continent’s leading table tennis player, according to the final annual rankings released on Tuesday by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Quadri, who dominated African rankings throughout the year, finished 28th in the world with 1,065 points, making him the only African male player to surpass the 1,000-point mark in the latest rankings, published for 2026 Week 1. Egypt’s Omar Assar followed as Africa’s second-best, sitting 32nd globally with 965 points.
At 37, Quadri compiled his points across a packed international calendar. Highlights included reaching the final of the ITTF African Cup in Tunis, earning 350 valuable points, advancing to the semi-finals of the WTT Star Contender in Doha, and making it to the last 16 at the World Table Tennis Championships, also held in Doha.
Additional points came from appearances at major events such as the Singapore Smash and United States Smash, alongside WTT Champions tournaments in Macao, Chongqing, Incheon, Yokohama, and Frankfurt, as well as several WTT Contender and Star Contender competitions.
Quadri’s consistency ensured he remained Africa’s standard-bearer, showcasing his longevity and staying power in a sport globally dominated by Asian and European stars.
On the world stage, China continues to lead the men’s rankings, with Wang Chuqin holding the top spot ahead of compatriot Lin Shidong, while Brazil’s Hugo Calderano remains the highest-ranked non-Asian player in third place.
Quadri’s latest achievement adds to a decorated career. A three-time Olympian, he represented Nigeria at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Games, reaching the quarter-finals in Rio 2016. In May 2022, he became the first African player to break into the world’s top ten.
He was named ITTF Star Player of the Year in 2014, won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal the same year, and was recognised by the Olympics as Africa’s most successful Olympic table tennis player of all time.
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