Africa’s top-ranked table tennis star, Aruna Quadri has shed light on why young Nigerian players struggle.

The 35-year-old recently claimed victory at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup, defeating Mohamed EL Beiali of Egypt 4-0 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda after three previous consecutive losses in the finals.

Quadri, attributed the challenge faced by young Nigerian players to the lack of regular participation in international tournaments and also the inadequate financial support which hinders their ability to compete consistently.

“The biggest problem is they are not playing international tournaments regularly,” Quadri told Brila Media.

“Most of the tournaments I’m playing, I’ve been sponsored by myself, with salaries from my club, and some from Germany.”

He urged the government to invest in the players’ participation in international events to facilitate their growth and experience.

“They have to play international tournaments regularly so that they can improve faster, the way I improved over the years,” Quadri emphasized.

Looking ahead, the Table tennis star expressed his readiness for the next challenge, which includes competing in the WT Championships in China, Slovenia, and also Lagos.