The latest ITTF world rankings shake things up for African table tennis, with Egypt’s Omar Assar dethroning Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna as the continent’s highest-ranked player.
Stellar performance at the Singapore Smash, reaching the round of 16, coupled with his victory over Aruna at the 2023 African Games, propelled Assar five spots up the rankings to 17th globally.
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Aruna, previously Africa’s top player, has dropped eight positions to 19th in the world rankings.
While Assar aimed to match Aruna’s 2023 Singapore Smash quarter-final feat, Indian Sharath Achanta’s impressive display ended his run in the round of 16.
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The shifting landscape extends beyond Africa. Former world number one Fan Zhendong (China) yielded his position to compatriot Wang Chuqin, who emerged victorious at the Singapore Smash.
This update signifies a changing of the guard in African table tennis and exciting developments on the global stage. While Assar couldn’t replicate Aruna’s past quarter-final run, his overall performance was enough to reclaim the top spot within Africa.
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