Omar Assar beat Quadri Aruna to retain ITTF Africa Cup

Egypt’s Omar Assar successfully defended his title after a 4-1 victory over archrival Aruna Quadri in the men’s singles final of the 2023 ITTF-Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya.

The ITTF Africa Cup is an annual table tennis competition held by the International Table Tennis Federation and the African Table Tennis Federation.

Pulse Sports reports that the Table Tennis Africa Cup started on Thursday and ended on Saturday at Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Kenya.

Aruna entered the tie aiming to unseat Assar as champion, but Nigeria's and Africa's top player was unsuccessful.

Assar, who won the competition in Lagos last year and defeated Quadri in the championship match, has now won the competition three times. He first accomplished this achievement in 2018 and then again in 2022.

Quadri, who has won the championship twice, defeated Mohammed El Bieali 4-0 to advance to the final. Assar had to work hard, but the defending champion beat the talented Antoine Razafinaarivvo of Madagascar.

In the women’s singles, 15-year-old Egyptian Hana Goda successfully defended her title in a thrilling 4-3 win over her compatriot Dina Meshref.

Everyone was glued to their seats during the game, which was unquestionably a match for the history books. Both contests served as a suitable capstone to the event, which took place in Kenya from May 4–6.

The next stop for the players is the WTTC Durban that will be held at the Durban International Convention Centre between May 20 and 28, 2023, in Durban, South Africa.