By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-04 04:00:16
Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, known as the giant killer, once again showed his prowess at the World Table Tennis Finals in Doha. In a stunning match, he rallied from the brink of defeat to claim victory over Hugo Calderano, the world’s number five-rated player, much to the surprise of the crowd.
Having been beaten by Calderano in their previous two meetings, Aruna was determined to change the narrative this time. And just as it happened in their past encounters, the Brazilian quickly took the lead with a 2-0 win over Aruna. However, the African champion silenced Calderano’s supporters with an 11-9 win in the third game, narrowing the score to 2-1. Aruna then secured a close 12-10 win in the fourth game, tying the score at 2-2. The fifth game, the deciding encounter, began in Aruna’s favor with an 8-4 lead. Although Calderano worked his way back into the game and took the lead, Aruna’s ferocious forehand shots ultimately led to a 12-10 victory in the final game.
An overjoyed Aruna expressed his feelings after the match, stating, “I cannot describe how it feels. But I’m very happy and excited.” He also credited his coach, Tunisia’s Hachmi Abid, for his support and guidance throughout the match, saying, “My coach was telling me not to give up and keep fighting. I believe so much in him and I was just doing what he told me to do.”
Aruna’s win advanced him to the quarterfinals of the tournament, where he is set to face world number one, Fan Zhendong of China. Despite never having won against Fan Zhendong, Aruna remains optimistic, stating, “I believe I can give my best tomorrow and see how it will go. It’s very important to enjoy it.” With a $340,000 prize at stake, Aruna is focused on putting his best effort forward and continuing to defy expectations on the world stage.
