Edited by Paul Elegbeleye
Although he faced the challenge of little funding, he has defied odds to remain a global tennis player. Who is Aruna Quadri? When did his career begin? Why is Nigeria proud of him? These questions will be answered as you read.
Table of Contents
Background and Early Success
Aruna Quadri was born on August 9th, 1988 in Oyo state, Nigeria. His journey began 10 years later, when he started accompanying his brother to a local tennis hall. His interest in table tennis had ignited. His mother had been initially sceptical because she feared his active participation might affect his academic performance. However, in 2000, he won her over when he won a national cadet tournament.
In 2014, he became an ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) star player. He also won the third position at the Commonwealth Games winning a bronze medal for Nigeria. During the 2016 Olympics, he joined the men’s single event. Defeating Wang Yang, a Slovakian player, he moved to the second round. In the second round, he also beat Chuang Chih-yuan.
And in the third round, he defeated the German star, Timo Boll to earn himself a place in the quarter finals. He was the only African competitor to reach the final round. However, he didn’t emerge winner although was the only male African player who made it to the fourth round.
In 2018, Aruna won the Outstanding Sportsmanship of the Year Award. According to an article on olympics.com that same year, 2018, he was declared Africa’s most successful Olympic table tennis player of all time.
He emerged as the winner in the 2017 ITTF African Cup, becoming the African Cup Champion. Again, in 2019, he won the Nigeria Open Men’s singles title.
In 2022, he became the first African Tennis star to rise to the world top 10.
Quadri Aruna is No 1 in Africa
Elite Performances
In 2025, Quadri emerged as Africa’s top player. He also had a global ranking of 28th position with 1065 points. He is the only African male paddler to surpass 1000 points limit. The Punch News reported that “the 37-year-old accumulated his ranking points across a demanding international schedule.”
Throughout 2025, he consistently fought his way back into the global top 20 and top 30 rankings, reclaiming Africa’s top spot several times after intense competition with Egypt’s Omar Assar. This impressive performance showcases his determination and skill in table tennis, with notable wins and a strong rivalry with Assar.
Also, he made it to the semi–finals of the WTT Star Contender in Doha. He was among the last 16 contenders at the WTT Championship finals which were also held in Doha.
Pulse News also reported that one of his standout performances was recorded when he scored 350 points at the ITTF African Cup in Tunis.
Throughout 2025, Quadri was an active competitor in major tournaments, including the Singapore Smash and the United States Smash. He also actively participated in the WTT Champions events in Macao, Chongqing, Incheon, Yokohama, and Frankfurt.
Even though table tennis is largely dominated by Asian and European players, he has demonstrated his ability to remain at the pinnacle by his consistency in all-year-round competitions. He is a source of pride to us.
Conclusion
It is 2026 and this Nigerian star is still making Nigerians proud through his sustained global dominance. He has also shown consistent continental leadership. Despite being challenged by top opponents like Hugo Calderano or Chinese elites, Aruna continues to be a tremendous source of pride for Nigeria and the entire continent.
Also, his influence extends to his son. He has established a family dynasty training his children to be international competitors. Recently, his 10-year-old son, Quadri Aruna Jnr won silver (Under-11) and bronze (Under-13) medals at the 2026 WTT Youth Contender in Luxembourg. The 10-year-old was coached by Aruna’s wife who was also a professional tennis athlete.
As the 2026 World Team Championships approach, he is preparing to lead Nigeria. According to Flashscore, Matti said that “Aruna brings a lot to the team in terms of leadership and confidence.” He remains a key figure in the nation’s team.
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