Africa’s highest ranked table tennis player, Aruna Quadri who sustained a thigh injury during the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tunis at the weekend, has withdrawn from the ongoing ITTF World Tour tagged Qatar Open in Doha.
Quadri will be out of action for three weeks has been advised to rest fully while undergoing the treatment.
In Tunis, the medical team of the tournament confirmed that the Nigerian had a recurring thigh injury which he was nursing before the tournament but further examination in Lisbon, Portugal later revealed that he suffered another hamstring injury in Tunis.
After beating Togo’s Djouji Fanny 4-0 in the first group match, it was during the second group match against Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw that Aruna Quadri copped the injury but he managed to finish the game which went 4-2 in favour of the Senegalese.
However, based on doctor’s advice, Quadri had to withdraw from playing the last group match which would have secured him a place in the Olympic Games.
The ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup runner’s up had to withdraw from playing his last match against Tunisia’s Adam Hmam to hand the Tunisian the last ticket to Tokyo.
From all indications, it is clear that the Nigerian can still pick his spot at Tokyo based on his world rating as the 18th best player in the world.
However, the Oyo State-born 2014 ITTF World Player of the Year expressed appreciation to fans across the world for their concern when he sustained an injury and withdrew from the Olympic Qualifiers in Tunis.
