Quadri Aruna reinforced his reputation as one of table tennis’s elite by defeating Germany’s Benedikt Duda 4-2 in a thrilling third-round clash at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Competing at Lusail Hall, the Nigerian standout—now Africa’s last representative in the Men’s Singles following Egypt’s Omar Assar’s early exit—delivered a performance full of grit, flair, and tactical precision.
Although trailing 1-2 in past meetings against the left-handed Duda, Aruna rose to the challenge, engaging in explosive rallies that had the crowd on its feet.
He drew first blood with an 11-9 win, but Duda hit back emphatically in the second, taking it 11-4. Adjusting his strategy, Aruna targeted Duda’s forehand to edge the third set 11-8. A disputed service fault at 2-2 in the fourth seemed to disrupt his rhythm, and he conceded the set 11-2.
Yet, in a dramatic turnaround, Aruna showed exceptional poise in the fifth. Down 3-9, he staged a remarkable comeback to level at 9-9 before snatching it 12-10. Riding that momentum, he surged ahead in the sixth, combining blistering forehands with pinpoint placement to close out the match 11-9 and secure a place in the fourth round.
