Nigeria’s table tennis star, Aruna Quadri has been confirmed as a late entrant for the maiden WTT Contender Chennai, replacing German player Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the men’s singles category.
The WTT Contender Chennai, the fifth WTT event of the year, will take place from March 25 to 30 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, India.
The tournament boasts a $270,000 prize pool and marks the first time the WTT series is being hosted in the city.
Strong Field of Competitors
Aruna, currently ranked 19th in the world, joins a highly competitive lineup that includes:
Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan, World No. 4)
Hugo Calderano (Brazil, World No. 6)
Jonathan Groth (Denmark, World No. 17)
Omar Assar (Egypt), his long-time African rival
Aruna’s 2025 WTT Campaign So Far
The 36-year-old Nigerian star has already featured in two WTT events this year:
WTT Star Contender Doha (January 2025): Reached the semi-finals before losing to Harimoto in straight sets.
WTT Champions Chongqing (March 2025): Suffered a round of 32 exit after a 3-0 loss to world No. 2 Wang Chuqin (China).
A Chance for Redemption in India
Aruna will be looking to put up a stronger showing in Chennai after his early exit in Chongqing. The World Table Tennis (WTT) body has backed him to make an impact, teasing his participation with a post:
“Stay tuned. There’s more to come from Quadri Aruna in India.”
Meanwhile, WTT Executive Director of Events Mounir Bessah hailed the inclusion of Chennai in the WTT calendar, with the support of Tamil Nadu’s government and a top-class venue.
Aruna Quadri will now focus on showcasing his skills and compete for his first WTT title of the year.
