Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna kicks off his 2025 campaign as the fifth seed in the highly competitive WTT Star Contender Doha tournament, held at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar. The tournament, which began with qualifying rounds on January 6-7, transitions to the main draw from January 8-11, with a $275,000 prize pool and valuable ITTF ranking points at stake.
Aruna, currently ranked 21st in the ITTF global rankings and the second-highest-rated African player after EgyptâÂÂs Omar Assar (18th), is a strong contender in the MenâÂÂs Singles. He enters the tournament as the fifth seed, behind JapanâÂÂs Tomokazu Harimoto, GermanyâÂÂs Dang Qui and Patrick Franziska, and SloveniaâÂÂs Darko Jorgic.
Doha has been a successful venue for Aruna in the past, with a semi-final finish in 2022. This year, as the only African competing in the MenâÂÂs Singles, he has received a bye to the round of 32, where he is set to face EnglandâÂÂs Liam Pitchford.
EgyptâÂÂs Dina Meshref Also in Action
In the WomenâÂÂs Singles, EgyptâÂÂs Dina Meshref, the 2024 Africa Cup champion, is seeded 16th and will start her campaign in the second round against ChinaâÂÂs Chen Yi. Meshref is making her return to international competition after skipping the 2024 African Championships in Ethiopia. She hopes to end her losing streak against Chinese opponents and make a strong statement in this tournament.
Tournament Highlights
The WTT Star Contender Doha is a six-day event that not only brings together some of the best talents in table tennis but also serves as a platform for players to gain critical ITTF ranking points. The tournament features top players like Tomokazu Harimoto, the 2021 winner, and Hina Hayata, a seven-time WTT Series champion, as well as standout players from previous editions like Andrej Gacina and Miyuu Kihara.
ArunaâÂÂs fans will be watching closely as he aims to replicate or surpass his previous successes in Doha, while Dina Meshref seeks to establish herself as a formidable force in the WomenâÂÂs Singles competition. The tournament promises intense competition and exciting matchups as it unfolds in Qatar.