Nigerian table tennis ace, Aruna Quadri, is set to launch his 2025 season as the fifth seed at the WTT Star Contender in Doha.
The main draw of the prestigious tournament commenced on Wednesday at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, Qatar.
Egyptian star Dina Meshref, the 2024 Africa Cup champion, will also make her return to the international stage, starting her campaign in the second round of the Women’s Singles against China’s Chen Yi. Meshref previously skipped the 2024 African Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and now seeks to reassert her dominance on the global scene.
Aruna Quadri, ranked 21st in the latest ITTF rankings, enters the tournament as the second-highest-rated African player, trailing only Egypt’s Omar Assar, who holds the 18th position in the global rankings. Among the top-seeded players in Doha, Quadri is placed behind Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, Germany’s Dang Qui and Patrick Franciska, and Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic.
Doha has been a memorable venue for Aruna Quadri, who reached the semifinals in the 2022 edition of the event. Looking to surpass that achievement, he begins his campaign in the round of 32, having received a bye as one of the top seeds. His opening match will pit him against the winner of the first-round clash between England’s Liam Pitchford and Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko.
For Meshref, ranked 16th in the Women’s Singles, the tournament presents a critical opportunity to break her losing streak against Chinese players. Like Aruna, she also received a bye into the second round, setting the stage for an intense matchup against Chen Yi.
The six-day tournament, which began with qualifying rounds from January 6 to 7, features a prize pool of $275,000 and offers players a valuable chance to earn significant points in the ITTF Table Tennis World Rankings.
Doha has been a focal point for the sport, hosting past champions like Tomokazu Harimoto, who claimed the first-ever WTT Star Contender Doha title in 2021. Seven-time WTT Series champion Hina Hayata of Japan also returns, hoping to revive her success in the Qatari capital.
Additionally, standout performers from previous editions, including Andrej Gacina and Miyuu Kihara, will look to make their mark once again in this highly competitive tournament.
