Nigeria’s ping pong rave of the moment, Aruna Quadri, is determined to break more barriers in 2017 and stretch himself beyond the limit to achieve the impossible as he forges ahead to fly Nigeria’s flag in the continent and on the global stage.
Quadri brazed the trail last year when he made history as the first African player to play in the quarter finals stage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. But now, he is working tirelessly to give the table tennis super powers a great run for their money.
The Asians are originally at the top of the game. They invented it and introduced it to the world. It would therefore take a strong will of any individual to beat them at their game and Quadri is looking up to God for achieving the overwhelming feat. Speaking to The Point on his dreams and aspirations for the year, Quadri said he would keep himself busy throughout this season.
My target is always to achieve what I never achieved in my career and I believe it’s very possible, with God on my side and more hard work
“I was very excited to have qualified for quarter-finals at the Olympic Games, and this was not just because I happened to be the first player from Africa to have played in the quarter finals of the Olympics Games.
This happened to be my best ever result so far, until this moment and I strongly believe that better days are ahead,” he said. Quadri was born August 9, 1988, in Oyo State, Nigeria. He competed for Nigeria at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in London and Rio respectively.
At the 2014 Table Tennis World Cup, he reached the quarter finals in the Men’s Singles competition and was also ranked number 30 in world, just as the International Table Tennis Federation named him the Star Player of the year 2016.
He is a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and a product of Oyo State Table Tennis Association, where he represented Oyo East Local Government Area at various competitions.
On his experiences in 2016 and what he plans to achieve in the New Year, Quadri said, “The year was great and good; there were ups and downs, but I am seriously giving thanks to God for His mercies on my career. I think I was around average in performance during the year 2016 and I pray and hope that 2017 will be so much better by God’s grace.
“My target remains the same every year. I always want to have better result both in Africa, and globally. My target is always to achieve what I never achieved in my career and I believe it’s very possible, with God on my side and more hard work.”
Competing with the great and mighty players has always been Quadri’s ambition, to rise above the limit. Tough ping pong stars, who had played against the Nigerian could say much about his wits and prowess.
The ITTF star player is, however, not resting on his oars to get the best out of his aggressive style of bulldozing himself to the top, “Concerning where I will play in the top European league and the French league next season, I will really want to make this a secret, until when the time comes.
The strongest league in Europe is still France and I think I am really improving in France more than Portugal. I also think that am well familiar with almost all kind of styles in Europe and which league I will play in future will not really determined my improvement.
I have improved a lot in both Portugal and France, and the experience in these two leagues will go a long way,” he said.
Nigerian Table Tennis Federation officials have been celebrating the great feat of Quadri last year, with the recognition the player received internationally, but the ping pong star is so humbled that he did not let all that enter his head.
According to Quadri, nobody can take table tennis out of his life, adding, “At this moment, I really don’t like any other sports apart from table tennis.
No other favourite.” On how he has been coping as a family man and the focusing on the beautiful game, he said, “I feel so great combining table tennis and the running of the home at the same time, it has never been an easy process, but I thank God for the great journey so far.
I must confess that it’s a more difficult experience having three children and wife at home, while travelling around the world as I am always missing my wife and kids, while outside the home.
“To be a family man means total responsibility. After I had my first child, my life changed positively and I started to get more responsible than before.
Being a father gives special happiness and it’s one of the best things in life. Taking care of children has never been easy and one just has to take it as an important responsibility.”
