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By Amaechi Agbo

Africa’s number one ranked tennis player, Aruna Quadri’s historic run at the World Table Tennis Championship in Houston, USA has come to an end in the quarter-final, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Quadri’s run at the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships ended after succumbing to a 4-2 defeat in the hands of the Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the quarter finals

Quadiri lost 4-2 in six sets -13-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7, to Sweden’s Moregard in the quarter-final denying him a place in the semis but his historic running the championship has endeared him to many table tennis followers in Africa and beyond.

The Nigerian on Friday booked a historic quarterfinals spot at the World Championships.
clinching a 4-3 win over Kristian Karslson of Sweden in a seven game thriller (11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 5-11, 6-11, 11-8, and 11-6).

This win not only secured Quadri’s spot in the quarterfinals of the championships; it also sets another record as he becomes the first African to accomplish such a feat in the history of the championships.

In the last six round, Quadri began with great intent from the onset, holding firm to claim the first set 11-9 while Karlston was still trying to find his feet in the match. Things began to change in the second set as the Swedish warmed into the match and quickly tied the match 1-1.

While Quadri was the better player in the third game, the African-record-maker was pegged back twice on game points by Karlston who came up with some big winners. Nevertheless, Quadri stayed strong to eventually wrap up the third game 13-11 for a 2-1 lead.

The 4th and 5th games came in a blur for Quadri as the momentum shifted to the Swedish player who fended off Quadri’s returns, piling immense pressure on the African in rallies and on short balls to claim two consecutive games, one of which saw Quadri slipping twice in the last points of the 5th game to gift Karlston a 3-2 advantage.

Going into the sixth game at a disadvantage, Quadri was able to draw some strength from the loud chants from the crowd to tie things 3-3 enroute his way to claiming the win with aplomb in the deciding set which ended 11-6.

Quadri remains Africa’s lone representative at the championships and he faced another Swedish player, Truls Moregard, in the quarterfinal late night on Saturday that saw to his end in the competition.

Quadri will take solace in the records he set and for showcasing the competition that Africa is capable of on the world stage.

The International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF congratulated Quadri on his feat and described him as the true ambassador of the continent.

“Great effort @quadriaruna a true ambassador of the continent,” ITTF said.