Nigeria table tennis star Quadri Aruna and other top players in Africa have been handed tough draws in the first round of the 2025 World Championships, which will be played in Qatar from May 17 to 25. Aruna will begin his campaign against Brazil’s Victor Ishiy in the men’s singles, while his compatriot Olajide Omotayo will take on Brazil’s Leonardo Iizuka in the first round.
Other African stars will face stiff competition, with Egypt’s Mohamed El-Beiali set to take on Sweden’s Anton Kallberg, and Omar Assar slated to slug it out against Croatia’s Frane Kojic. Benin Republic’s Kokou Fanny will face French sensation Alexix Lebrun, and Tunisia’s Wassim Essid will clash against Spain’s Juan Perez.
In the women’s singles, Nigerian trio Hope Udoaka, Ajoke Ojomu, and Fatimo Bello will battle Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi, Sally Moyland, and India’s Manika Batra, respectively. Egyptian duo Hana Goda and Dina Meshref will also take on New Zealand’s Jiamuwa Wu and Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova, respectively.
The draw was held at the Mall of Qatar on Wednesday, April 30, setting the tone for a return to Doha, which made history by hosting the Middle East’s first World Championships in 2004. African players will also compete in the doubles and mixed doubles events.
The tournament will be held at the Lusail Arena and Qatar University Sports Complex, marking a full-circle moment for Doha. According to the ITTF, the 2025 edition promises unparalleled excitement with five events featuring the planet’s finest talents competing for glory.
With the challenging draws, African players will need to bring their A-game to make an impact in the tournament. The competition promises to be fierce, with top players from around the world vying for a chance to lift the trophy. As the tournament approaches, fans can expect thrilling matches and exceptional table tennis.