Sports

THE International Table Tennis Federation, Africa Cup kicks off on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, with top gladiators set to clash as expected.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition features top African players and this year’s event holds at the International Sports Centre, Nairobi.

At least 29 male players and 23 female players are said to have registered for this year’s event scheduled to begin on May 5.

NAN reports that Aruna Quadri would be leading the challenge from the men’s perspective for Nigeria, while his biggest challenger is Omar Assar of Egypt.

Both players have clashed in the finals in the last six editions, and without gainsaying, the table tennis world would give anything for another titillating duel involving the two in Nairobi.

Considered as the gathering of the best in African table tennis, Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa, who recently changed nationality from France to the North African country, would aim for his first continental title.

Bouloussa had made his presence felt at the 2022 African Championship, which held on home soil.

Also, Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw should hope to use the tournament to re-launch himself back to reckoning on the continent after a long-time layoff due to injury.

NAN reports that rave of the moment and Africa’s best-ranked female player, Dina Meshref of Egypt, is out to reclaim the title she lost to teenage sensation and fellow Egyptian, Hana Goda, in 2022.

Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello would be challenging for honours after she lost out also in 2022.

2010 champion, Sarah Hanffou of Cameroon, is also among the title contenders; Maram Zoghlami of Tunisia is another challenger who can cause an upset on a good day.

Similarly, Kenyan Brian Mutua is a veritable competitor and will hope to join the league of the elites on the wings of a strident home support in Nairobi. (NAN)

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Tags: Aruna Quadri Dina Meshref Kenyan Brian Mutua Sarah Hanffou