Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has reclaimed his spot as Africa’s highest-ranked table tennis player, surpassing Egypt’s Omar Assar in the latest ITTF Week 12 rankings released this week.
Quadri, who was previously 19th in the world rankings, has now moved up to 18th place, while Assar dropped from 17th to 19th, allowing Aruna to overtake him as the continent’s No. 1 player.
Denmark’s Jonathan Groth climbed one position to 17th, taking Assar’s former spot.
Consistent WTT Performances Boost Aruna’s Global Standing
Despite finishing as runner-up at the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup, Aruna’s stellar performances in WTT tournaments this year have been instrumental in his rise up the rankings.
Notably, he remains the only African male player to reach the semi-finals of the WTT Contender Doha, a feat he first achieved in 2023 and repeated in January 2025.
His consistent high-level performances at global events helped him surpass Assar, who defeated him in the final of the 2025 ITTF Africa Cup to claim the continental title.
Upcoming Challenge: WTT Contender Chennai
Aruna’s next assignment is the WTT Contender Chennai, which will take place in India from March 23 to 30.
Hana Goda Leads African Women’s Rankings
In the women’s singles category, Egypt’s Hana Goda maintained her status as Africa’s No. 1 female player, moving up one spot to 26th in the world rankings.
Her compatriot Dina Meshref remained steady at 33rd place, holding on to her position as the continent’s second-best-ranked female player.
Global Rankings: China Dominates
China continues to dominate the world rankings in both the men’s and women’s categories.
Men’s Singles:
Lin Shidong retained his No. 1 ranking, with compatriot Wang Chuqin staying in second place.
Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto climbed to third, replacing China’s Liang Jingkun after reaching the semifinals at WTT Champions Chongqing.
Women’s Singles:
The top five remained unchanged, with China’s Sun Yingsha holding onto her No. 1 position after successfully defending her WTT Champions Chongqing title.
A Historic Milestone for African Table Tennis
Aruna’s rise back to Africa’s No. 1 ranking crowns his unwavering commitment and world-class talent.
His next stop is the WTT Contender Chennai, where he will sought to continue his record-breaking journey on the global stage.
