Nigeria’s top-ranked table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, dropped one spot in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings, while compatriot Fatima Bello enjoyed a modest rise in the women’s category.
In the ITTF Week 27 rankings released on Tuesday, Aruna slipped from 23rd to 24th in the men’s singles despite retaining his 1,140 points. The 36-year-old, who did not feature in any event during the review period, was overtaken due to point shifts among active competitors.
Aruna’s current standing is underpinned by previous performances, including a runner-up finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis, which earned him 350 points, and a semi-final berth at the WTT Star Contender Doha earlier this year, which contributed 210 points. However, with many of those points nearing expiration and no recent tournament appearances, his ranking is now under increasing pressure.
In contrast, Fatima Bello provided a bright spot for Nigeria on the women’s side, climbing four places to 92nd in the world with 230 points. Though she has not competed since the World Championships in May, the 26-year-old benefitted from adjustments elsewhere in the rankings.
Bello’s key performances—such as a semi-final finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup, a quarter-final run at the 2024 African Championships, and a strong showing at the 2023 African Team Championships—remain valid in the ranking cycle. Her participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she reached the round of 64, also continues to boost her profile.
Mixed Results for Nigerian Contingent
Beyond Aruna and Bello, the latest rankings offered a mixed bag for other Nigerian players. In the men’s category:
Olajide Omotayo fell three spots to 162nd (109 points) Matthew Kuti dropped one place to 195th Muizz Adegoke slipped two spots to 231st Azeez Solanke endured the steepest decline, falling eight places to 858th with just two points
However, 20-year-old Taiwo Mati emerged as a positive outlier, climbing five places to 531st. The talented youth prospect continues to make incremental gains through consistent appearances at lower-tier international events.
On the women’s side, the rankings also saw a reshuffling among Nigeria’s top players:
Aminat Fashola dropped one place to 182nd (90 points) Ajoke Ojomu moved up two places to 194th (83 points) Offiong Edem, a veteran of the sport, slid seven places to 261st Hope Udoaka and Sukurat Aiyelabegan now sit at 282nd and 612th, respectively
Global Landscape
The global rankings remain dominated by Asian powerhouses. In the men’s division, China holds four of the top five positions. Lin Shidong retained the top spot with 8,675 points, followed by Wang Chuqin (6,575). Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is the highest-ranked non-Asian, sitting third with 5,400 points. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and China’s Liang Jingkun round out the top five.
On the women’s side, Chinese athletes continue to assert global dominance. Sun Yingsha tops the table with 11,250 points, ahead of Wang Manyu (6,765), Chen Xingtong (5,425), Wang Yidi (4,415), and Kuai Man (4,255).
Ranking Mechanics
The ITTF World Rankings, updated weekly, are based on a player’s best eight performances over a rolling 12-month period. Rankings influence tournament seedings, qualification for global events—including the Olympics—and reflect performance consistency. While the system does not penalize for match losses, it rewards active participation and success across sanctioned ITTF events.
With several ranking-defining tournaments ahead, Nigerian players will look to improve their standings through more frequent international participation and podium finishes.
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