Chijioke Gabriel
Quadri Aruna reinforced his reputation as one of table tennis’s elite with a sensational 4–2 win over Germany’s Benedikt Duda to reach the round of 16 of the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The victory, sealed at the Lusail Hall on Tuesday, ensures he is the last African standing in the men’s singles following the exit of Egypt’s Omar Assar in the second round.
Despite entering the tie with a 1–2 head-to-head record against the left-handed Duda, Aruna delivered a composed and strategic performance.
He took the opening set 11–9, only for Duda to respond emphatically with an 11–4 win in the second. Regrouping, Aruna shifted tactics in the third set, exploiting Duda’s forehand to take the set 11–8. A contentious service fault call in the fourth set saw him lose focus briefly, resulting in an 11–2 loss.
But the Nigerian displayed trademark grit in the fifth set, battling back from 3–9 down to level at 9–9 and eventually stealing it 12–10 in a stunning turnaround.
Buoyed by that comeback, Aruna held firm in the sixth set to close out the match 11–9 for a 4-2 victory.
