- …As Aruna Quadri loses to arch-rival Assar
After a pulsating three-day tournament which had 48 players (28 men and 20 women) across Africa, a 14 year old Egyptian, Hana Goda has emerged the youngest winner of the ITTF Africa Cup.
Goda, who made her first appearance at the Africa Cup held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos was number two seed in the women’s singles and she was at her best from the group matches to the final to become the youngest at 14 years and five months to win the continental tournament at the expense of former champions.
Goda who narrowly lost to Mariam Alhodaby in the women’s singles final of the 2021 African Championships in Cameroon had it easy in the final when she defeated surprise player of the tournament Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello 4-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6) to emerge as the new champion and secured her place at the 2022 World Table Tennis (WTT) Cup Finals later in the year.
Meanwhile, the poster boy of African table tennis, Aruna Quadri lost to arch-rival Omar Assar who reclaimed his men’s singles title after beating Aruna 4-3 in the final.
Despite the 2000-capacity Lagos venue filled up, Aruna could not win due to a thigh injury.
A disappointed Quadri said: “Of course, I gave almost everything, from when I could move, to when I couldn’t move very well again. I was already feeling tightness from my thigh. Despite that, of course I never gave up, as I was still fighting on until finally at 3-3, and at 4-0, I was leading… It is one of those things in sports, but I am very happy with my performance.”
An excited Assar said: “I am very happy to perform here in Lagos, and I believe here is the place I have received the most support in my career.”
