Aaior K. Comfort
Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna has officially withdrawn from the men’s singles event at the 2024 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships currently taking place in Addis Ababa. His decision follows a thigh injury and fatigue experienced during the tournament.
Despite leading Nigeria to victory in the team event against Algeria on October 14, Aruna was unable to compete in his scheduled second-round match against Benin Republic’s Dodji Fanny. In a statement issued on Thursday, Aruna explained the physical toll that recent tournaments have taken on him, stating, “I have been playing in various tournaments for the past two months, often in different time zones.”
The 35-year-old athlete detailed his busy schedule, which included travels to India, Macau, China, and Saudi Arabia for league matches, followed by a training camp in France before arriving in Ethiopia. He noted that the high altitude in Addis Ababa made it particularly challenging to acclimatize.
“I felt pain in my buttock and tightness in my hamstring during the team event. It is crucial to rest now to avoid worsening the injury,” he emphasized.
With multiple tournaments on the horizon, including two more WTT Championships and league matches in Saudi Arabia and France, Aruna highlighted the necessity of recovery. “I need to rest to ensure I don’t aggravate the injury,” he added.
Aruna plans to stay with the Nigerian team to support his younger teammates and will return to Nigeria with them this weekend.