Aruna Quadri Reflects On 15-Year Journey In Table Tennis

Aruna Quadri Reflects On 15-Year Journey In Table Tennis

Sampson Adedeji

Nigerian table tennis icon, Aruna Quadri, has shared an emotional reflection on his 15-year journey in the sport, acknowledging the vital role of private sponsors and individuals in his rise, while lamenting the lack of government support, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Aruna recalled how his career took off in 2010 when he moved to Portugal to play in the Portuguese Super League.

 “Fifteen years ago, I arrived in Portugal to play as a professional table tennis player in the Portuguese Super League, competing almost every weekend for my club,” he wrote.

Aruna revealed that most of his international outings were made possible through the support of individuals, particularly Barrister Wahid Enitan Oshodi, now the president of the Africa Table Tennis Federation.

 “Internationally, I played at least one tournament every month with the backing of Barrister Oshodi. His financial support helped me to improve rapidly,” he noted.

The African number one, however, highlighted the challenges he faced representing Nigeria, often competing without a coach. 

“With zero support from the Nigerian government, I played 99% of tournaments alone, without a coach. I had to fund most of my travels myself,” he said. 

Aruna recounted the 2014 World Cup in Düsseldorf, where his then-sponsor, Joola, provided him with a German coach, while Oshodi covered his flight and accommodation costs.

The extra support, he explained, propelled him to the quarter-finals. Fast-forward to the 2025 World Championships in Doha, Aruna revealed he had to buy his own ticket after the Nigerian federation failed to act in time. 

“I played my first two matches with coach Dotun Omoniyi, and I felt very comfortable. But after my wins, Nigeria said he could not continue coaching me because there was no money to extend his stay. I later had to pay a friend from Togo, Fanny, to adjust his flight so he could coach me in the round of 32. With his help, I reached the round of 16,” he recounted.

Aruna used the opportunity to call for better investment in the next generation of Nigerian table tennis players.

“It’s very important that Nigeria starts investing in young players, allowing them to attend tournaments regularly,” he emphasized.

He ended his post by appreciating his sponsors, friends, and supporters for standing by him throughout his career.