Africa's medal hopeful Quadri Aruna knocked out of World Table Tennis Championship

Africa's highest-ranked player, Quadri Aruna, has been knocked out of the World Table Tennis Championship in Durban, South Africa.

The 2023 World Championship Finals started on Saturday, May 20, and will end on May 28, the first time Africa will host after 84 years.

Pulse Sports reported that Aruna defeated Romanian, Ovidiu Ionescu 4-2 (11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9) in the preliminary round of the men’s singles.

Africa's medal hopeful, Aruna, was knocked out by Spanish Alvaro Robles in the round of 64 after a dramatic seven-set clash, 4-3.

Aruna began the game in high spirits as he won the first two sets 11-8, 11-9, before losing three straight sets on a go: 11-8, 11-3, 11-9.

Coming from a set down, Aruna won the sixth set 11-3 before losing the game in the last set 11-8.

Robles will face Italian Mihai Bobocica in round of 32 on Wednesday.

Aruna admitted that he feels relaxed in South Africa, and he got massive support from them.

He said, "This is like playing in my home country, which is Africa, i was here in January, and I got amazing support from them, It's like playing in Nigeria.

The Oyo-born will now focus on the World Contender Series Lagos, slated to take place at the Molade Okoya indoor hall of the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos next month.