Nigerian table tennis icon Aruna Quadri saw his hopes of claiming the ₦15 million prize at the 2025 WTT Doha Contender dashed after a semi-final loss to Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto.
In the much-anticipated semi-final clash, Quadri faced Harimoto, who was determined to avenge his previous defeat to the Nigerian at the WTT Champions in Frankfurt.
This time, Harimoto displayed superior form, dominating the match and winning in straight sets: 11-9, 11-3, 11-5.
No.1 seed storms into the final 😎
Tomokazu Harimoto ends his losing streak against Quadri Aruna with a dominant 3-0 win 💥#WTTDoha #TableTennis pic.twitter.com/ptRscFJ5Xo
— World Table Tennis (@WTTGlobal) January 11, 2025
The defeat meant Quadri missed out on a chance to reach the final and compete for the $10,000 (₦15 million) winner’s prize, bringing an abrupt end to what had been a promising campaign.
A Remarkable Journey
Quadri’s road to the semi-finals was nothing short of impressive. In the round of 16, he faced Spain’s Alvaro Robles in a tightly contested encounter.
Quadri emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, finally breaking a streak of losses to the Spanish player and showcasing his resilience and tactical brilliance.
Photo by WTT media
In the quarter-finals, Quadri faced Britain’s Liam Pritchard. Despite a challenging match, the Nigerian star secured another narrow victory to book his spot in the semi-finals.
Cementing His Legacy
By advancing to the semi-finals, Quadri has once again underlined his status as one of Africa’s greatest table tennis players.
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He remains the only male African to reach the semi-finals of the WTT Star Contender stage, repeating his historic achievement from 2022.
