TheCable

Quadri Aruna has been seeded among the top 15 players in the men’s singles of table tennis event at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for next week.

The 32-year-old, who qualified to Tokyo based on his world rating, is placed in the top echelon of the 65 players that will be competing in men’s singles at the games.

Aruna is the highest ranked player from Africa followed by Egypt’s Omar Assar, who is seeded 28, while Olajide Omotayo also makes the top 50 as he enters as 49th seed.

Aruna, who will be representing Nigeria at his third Olympics, is hoping to stop the Chinese domination and surpass his quarterfinal finish in Rio 2016.

In the women’s singles, Egypt’s Dina Meshref, six-time African women champion, has been seeded 19th while Nigeria’s Offiong Edem is seeded 53.

Seven-time Olympian Olufunke Oshonaike is 60th among the 70 athletes competing for medals.

Oshonaike, had in a chat with TheCable last month, vowed that she’s going to Tokyo to “defeat the undefeated” and set a new record.

“I should defeat the undefeated. People that are thinking I won’t be able to defeat. I want to do that,” Oshonaike had told TheCable.

“Apart from the fact that I am going to get the award in Tokyo, as the first woman in Nigeria and Africa or in the world, I just want this Olympic to be the best for me. I should do my best.”

Tokyo Olympics will be held between July 23 and August 13, and the table tennis event will serve off on second day.