In the final of the men’s singles table tennis event at the 2024 African Games, Aruna Quadri was overcome by Egypt’s Omar Assar.
In a closely contested battle in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday, Aruna suffered a 4-3 defeat to his Egyptian rival, settling for silver.
This loss in the final adds to Aruna’s disappointing record of not securing a gold medal in the men’s singles event at the African Games, despite competing in four editions.
He represented Nigeria in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011, where he did not reach the podium. In 2015, he was defeated by Assar in the men’s singles final in Brazzaville, Congo. Four years later, his compatriot Olajide Omotayo clinched the gold medal in Rabat, Morocco, defeating him.
Reflecting on his recent defeat, Aruna characterized the match as “difficult” and praised the high level of competitiveness in table tennis across the continent.
“This is why we are professionals; this is what we are made to do. It’s always a very difficult match; it shows that the level of the competition is actually improving.”
Meanwhile, Offiong Edem secured the bronze medal in the women’s table tennis singles event, marking Nigeria’s first medal at the African Games in Ghana.
Edem faced a 4-0 defeat against Dina Meshref in the semi-final, after defeating the Alhodaby twins – Marwa and Mariam – in the last 16 and quarter-finals, thus earning a place among the medalists in the games.
In the final, 16-year-old Hana Goda emerged victorious, defeating Meshref 4-2 to claim the gold medal in the women’s singles event.
The table tennis competition occurred a few days prior to the start of the Games, which are scheduled to take place from March 8 to 23.