Table Tennis: Aruna Qualifies For 2024 Olympic Games In Paris

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna secures his fourth Olympic appearance in table tennis at Paris 2024, overcoming a point deduction delay to qualify.

Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has been confirmed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) as one of the 86 players participating in the men’s singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, thanks to his world ranking.

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The 35-year-old Quadri Aruna will be making his fourth Olympic appearance, having previously represented Nigeria in 2012, 2016, and 2020, with a notable quarter-final finish in 2016.

Aruna, along with Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi, was confirmed by the ITTF on Friday ahead of next week’s world ranking update.

Aruna’s qualification had been delayed due to a point deduction in April, but he secured his spot for Paris after successfully appealing the ITTF’s decision.

“With less than 50 days to the games, this week’s world ranking update has seen eight athletes secure their participation based on the selection of continental quotas allocated by world ranking,”

ITTF said in a statement relayed by the African Table Tennis Federation.

“The men’s singles draw welcomes African powerhouse, Quadri Aruna from Nigeria, alongside the Americas’ rising talent Nicolas Burgos from Chile.

“Asia’s Kirill Gerassimenko of Kazakhstan and Europe’s Alvaro Robles of Spain, who previously qualified in mixed doubles, also confirm their spots.

“The women’s singles competition showcases a similar level of global talent.

“Lynda Loghraibi from Algeria (Africa), Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico (Americas), Singapore’s Zhou Jingyi (Asia).

“And Yang Xiaoxin of Monaco (Europe) can now officially begin their preparations for their Olympic dreams in Paris.”

However, with just one more world ranking update before the final roster for Paris is confirmed, the qualification process reaches its penultimate stage.

Next week’s world rankings will be crucial in determining the final competitors for the highly anticipated Paris 2024 Games.

Moreover, 86 men and 86 women are anticipated to compete in the singles events at the Olympic Games.