By Amaechi Agbo

Africa’s number one ranked tennis player, Aruna Quadri late Thursday night qualified for the Last 16 of the ongoing World Table Tennis Championship in Houston, USA after defeating India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

The 13th seed kept his cool as he navigated his way past India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran to book a place in the men’s singles last 16.

Quadri will be playing in the last 16 of the World Championships for the first time after previous 3rd round exit in Hungary.

He’s currently the only African remaining in the men’s singles in Houston.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Aruna defeated
Vitor Ishiy of Brazil in 2 rounds as he progresses to the last 32 in the men’s singles.

Africa’s top ranked player, Quadri defeated 152nd ranked Belarusian Aleksandr Khanin in the first round and having reached the 3rd round in 2019 where he lost to world No.1 Fan Zhendong in Hungary, the 13th seed has now surpassed the 3rd round jinx at the championships

The 2021 World Table Tennis Championships is held in Houston, United States from 23 to 29 November.

It is the 56th edition of the championships and the first time the competition is held in the United States. Houston became the host by beating Agadir, Morocco in 2019.