Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Waheed Enitan Oshodi has confirmed that world number 16, Aruna Quadri, will miss the World Table Tennis (WTT) Lagos Contender tournament, which serves off today.

Quadri’s absence is due to an injury he sustained, with the decision made as a precautionary measure to ensure his fitness for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

Oshodi emphasized the importance of managing the Player’s health carefully as the 35-year-old athlete nears the end of his illustrious career.

The upcoming Olympics hold significant weight for Quadri, and Oshodi expressed confidence in his potential to perform exceptionally well in the table tennis events.

“Aruna is injured. He got injured, I think he was in Chongqing in China and we thought he would be fit by now. But the balance is that he comes here, gets injured and then we’re a month away from the Olympics,” Oshodi stated.

He further elaborated on the critical nature of the upcoming Olympic Games, noting the athlete’s impressive track record and resilience in the face of formidable competition.

“The big one for Aruna, this Olympics is very, very, very important for him. I think he’ll do well at the Olympics. I remember in 2014 I told a few people he could get to the semi-finals and they thought it was a joke,” Oshodi recalled.

Quadri’s journey to the quarter-finals at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he faced the then-world number one Ma Long, was a testament to his talent and determination.

Oshodi expressed optimism about Quadri’s chances in Paris, noting that he has previously beaten some of the world’s top players.

“He got to the quarter finals and unlucky to meet Ma Long, the number one in the world. This year, whoever he meets, Aruna has beaten everybody in the world. I think this might be the year for him,” Oshodi concluded.