At the 2024 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Championships, which are presently being held in Addis Ababa, Nigerian table tennis sensation Quadri Aruna has formally withdrew from the men’s singles competition. He made the decision after being exhausted and suffering a thigh injury during the competition.
Aruna helped Nigeria to triumph against Algeria in the team event on October 14, but he was unable to play in his planned second-round match against Dodji Fanny of the Benin Republic. “I have been playing in various tournaments for the past two months, often in different time zones,” Aruna said in a statement released on Thursday, describing the physical toll that recent tournaments have placed on him.
The 35-year-old athlete described his hectic itinerary, which includes league match trips to China, India, Macau, and Saudi Arabia, as well as a training camp in France prior to his arrival in Ethiopia. He observed that acclimatization was especially difficult in Addis Ababa due to the city’s high elevation.
During the team event, I had tightness in my hamstring and soreness in my buttocks. He underlined that resting right now is essential to preventing the injury from getting worse.
Aruna emphasized the need for rehabilitation with a number of competitions coming up, including two more WTT Championships and league games in Saudi Arabia and France. “To make sure I don’t worsen the injury, I need to rest,” he continued.
Aruna will travel back to Nigeria this weekend with the Nigerian squad, intending to stay behind to help his younger colleagues.
