TheCable

Omar Assar and Dina Meshref, Egyptian tennis stars, have both been crowned champions at the 2019 ITTF Africa Cup tournament.

While Assar defeated his Egyptian counterpart, Saleh Ahmed, in a seven round thriller, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, 12-14, 11-3, 9-11, 11-3 (4-3), Meshref beat her cousin, Yousra Helmy (11-9, 11-9, 11-1, 11-8) to claim the title in the women’s final.

Speaking with journalists after the victory, Assar said it was a tough tournament for him as he only recovered from a knee injury on the second day.

“It was a very tough tournament for me, which started with a knee injury, then I recovered on the second day. I am very happy with this victory and now I will keep training hard as I try to reach another goal in the German league, seizing the next challenge,” Assar said.

Assar celebrates

For Meshref, she was excited to retain the title.

“I feel very happy to have defended my title and qualified for the Women’s World Cup. I really hope I can represent Africa in the best possible way,” she said.

Meshref pose with her trophy

The tournament was held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas hall of Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos.

Assar, who is tournament’s number 3 seed, had earlier defeated Nigerian star, Aruna Quadri in the semi-finals, beating him in three straight rounds.

Quadri had to settle for third place after beating Algeria’s Sami Kherouf, the number 8 seed (11-6, 12-10, 11-5) in the third place play-off.

Men’s single winners wit their cheques

Nigeria’s Offiong Edem gained third place by defeating Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci in five games (8-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8).

Personal triumphs for Assar and Meshref as this is his third time he has won the title while an incredible seventh for Mesref.

Both now qualify for the respective men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments to be held later in the year in Chengdu, China.