Aruna among top seeds for Olympic draws

Based on his current world ranking, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna is expected to be drawn bye in the first round of the men’s singles event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the draws for the table tennis event approach.

Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar stand out as parts of the 16 top seeds who have qualified for this year’s event.

Aruna, who made history as the first African to reach the quarter-finals of the table tennis event at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, currently holds the 19th world ranking, while Assar who is the second African to reach the quarter-finals is rated 22nd in the world.

The official seedings for the Games will be based on the July 16 ITTF world rankings.

According to the Africa Table Tennis Federation, the two African stars will be among the top seeds, and they are expected to kick off their campaign from the second round (round of 64) of the tournament on July 28 at the South Paris Arena.

All eyes will be on Aruna and Assar, with the Nigerian making his fourth Olympic Games appearance, as he contends for a podium finish in Paris.

Another Nigerian joining Aruna in the men’s singles event is Olajide Omotayo.

In the women’s singles, Nigeria’s duo of Offiong Edem and Fatimo Bello, along with Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou and Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi, complete the continent’s contingent in Paris.

Other African players in the men’s singles include Mehdi Boulussa of Algeria and Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal. Madagascar’s Fabio Rakotoarimanana will create history as the first player from the island nation to compete in the table tennis event at the Olympic Games. Saheed Idowu of Congo Brazzaville also secured a tripartite invitation to compete in Paris.

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