Aruna Quadri and Omotayo Olajide
BY Idris Shehu
The Nigerian duo of Aruna Quadri and Omotayo Olajide have qualified for the semi-final of the men’s singles at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup.
The Nigerians brushed aside their opponents in their respective quarter-final matches at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on Monday.
Aruna defeated Tunisia’s Essid Wassim 4-0 in the first game of the round to book a place in the semis.
The number-one seeded player overcame a few lapses in the first set to defeat the Tunisian 14-12, 11-8, 11-9 and 11-8.
Aruna, who lost the final of the competition’s last edition to Egypt’s Omar Assar, will be facing another Egyptian Abdel-Aziz Youssef in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
Olajide secured his place in the penultimate round after defeating Cameroon’s Batix Ylane 4-1.
The 2019 African Games gold medalist won the first three sets comfortably 11-3, 11-8, 11-9 before surrendering the fourth 10-12. He then wrapped the match up in the final round 15-13.
Olajide will face Egypt’s El-Beiali Mohamed in the next round.
In the women’s singles, Edem Offiong also advanced to the semi-final after sweeping aside Cameroon’s Boateye Joanita 4-0.
She will face Dina Meshref, an eight-time champion of the competition, for a place in the final.
Meanwhile, Fatimo Bello failed to make it beyond the quarter-final following a defeat to Egypt’s Hana Goda.
The 2024 ITTF wraps up on Tuesday while the final round of African qualifiers for the Paris Olympics commences on Thursday.
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