Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri has ended the year 2025 as the continent’s leading male table tennis player, according to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) final rankings for the year, released Tuesday.
Quadri, who has consistently topped African charts throughout 2025, ranks 28th in the world with 1,065 points, making him the only African man to surpass the 1,000-point milestone in the latest ITTF Week 1 2026 rankings. Following him is Egypt’s Omar Assar, positioned 32nd globally with 965 points.
At 37 years old, Quadri amassed his points through a demanding international schedule. Key performances included reaching the final of the ITTF African Cup in Tunis, earning 350 points, advancing to the semi-finals of the WTT Star Contender event in Doha, and making it to the round of 16 at the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha.
Additional ranking points were collected from his participation in premier events such as the Singapore Smash, United States Smash, and WTT Champions tournaments in Macao, Chongqing, Incheon, Yokohama, and Frankfurt, alongside several WTT Contender and Star Contender competitions.
His consistency and results across these events ensured Quadri remained Africa’s benchmark, demonstrating remarkable endurance and competitiveness in a sport largely dominated by Asian and European athletes.
Globally, the men’s rankings continue to be led by China, with Wang Chuqin at the top, followed by compatriot Lin Shidong. Brazil’s Hugo Calderano remains the highest-ranked non-Asian player in third position.
Quadri’s 2025 achievements further cement a celebrated career. A three-time Olympian, he represented Nigeria in 2012, 2016, and 2020, reaching the quarter-finals in Rio 2016. In May 2022, he became the first African table tennis player to enter the global top ten.
His accolades also include being named ITTF Star Player of the Year in 2014, winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal the same year, and receiving recognition from the Olympics as Africa’s most successful Olympic table tennis player to date.
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