Sports

BIG wigs in African table tennis – Quadri Aruna, Omar Assar, Dina Meshref and Hana Goda – have sailed through to the quarter-finals of the singles event of the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.

A statement by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), made this known on Monday.

It also stated that Aruna, a two-time silver medalist had to work hard to defeat Algeria’s Stephane Quaiche 3-1 in an explosive match on the centre table.

According to the statement, the 2015 champion, Assar of Egypt, wasted no time in dismissing Algeria’s Sami Kherouf 3-0.

Also, men’s singles defending champion, Olajide Omotayo of Nigeria, was ahead of Tunisia’s Kalil Sta with a commanding 3-0 win.

Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu ended the dream of Tunisian teenage sensation Wassim Essid with a 3-0 win while Egypt’s Mohammed El-Beiali dismissed Algeria’s Maheidine Bella 3-0 to hit the last eight.

Khaled Assar of Egypt also joined the league of top players in the last eight with a dominating 3-0 win over Tunisia’s Youssed Ben Attia.

Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw edged out bespectacled Mohammed Shouman 3-1 to qualify for the last eight of the men’s singles.

The women’s singles quarter-finals was dominated by Egypt as Meshref, Yousra Helmy, Hana Goda and Mariam Alhodaby picked their places in the last eight.

Nigeria’s only surviving player, Offiong Edem, beat Mariam Alhodaby 3-0 while Esther Oribamise fell 3-1 to Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou.

Algeria’s Lucie Mobarek and Lynda Loghraibi also sailed through to the quarter-finals. (NAN) 

5th March, 2024.

C.E.

Tags: BIG wigs Dina Meshref Hana Goda ITTF OMAR Assar Quadri Aruna