Despite a hard-fought 3-2 loss to German player Ricardo Walther in the round of 16 at the WTT Frankfurt 2024, Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna garnered widespread acclaim from the African table tennis community. His determined play at the Süwag Energie Arena left a lasting impression, with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) commending his fighting spirit on their official X handle.

Aruna’s journey in Frankfurt began with an impressive comeback on Sunday, where he upset the tournament’s No. 5 seed, Tomokazu Harimoto. Trailing 0-2, Aruna rallied with the support of the crowd, ultimately clinching a thrilling 3-2 victory (7-11, 11-13, 11-5, 14-12, 11-3). Reflecting on his performance, the Ibadan-born athlete expressed gratitude for the crowd’s encouragement and reaffirmed his dedication to representing Nigeria and Africa proudly.

This marks Aruna’s second-ever match win at the WTT Champions level, following his breakthrough win just a week earlier in Montpellier. Although Harimoto was anticipated to make a strong showing, Aruna’s resilience forced a decisive set, electrifying the Frankfurt crowd and showcasing his remarkable skill and determination.