TheCable

Aruna Quadri has won the men’s singles event of the ITTF Challenge Polish Open.

The Nigerian defeated Japan’s Kaii Yoshida after six sets (11-7, 11-13 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 14-12) to become the first African to win an ITTF title outside the continent.

The match against the Japanese lived up to expectation as both players tested each other strength-for-strength and skill-for-skill but it was the Nigerian who had the last laugh.

Although Quadri’s opponent enjoyed support from the home fans — as he plies his trade in the Polish league — the number one seed for the tournament emerged the victor.

Prior to beating the Japanese in the final, Quadri had defeated Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko (11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6) in the semi-final stage of the competition.

In the women’s singles event, it was an all-Japanese affair as ITTF World Cup defending champion Mima Ito defeated her compatriot Saki Shibata to emerge as the winner.

Quadri is among the top 20 players in the world that will compete at the prestigious ITTF World Cup in Liege, Belgium from October 20 to 22.