Following the expiration of the ranking points for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Quadri Aruna has shot up in the latest ITTF Ranking released yesterday by the world ruling body.
Also, Portugal-based Taiwo Mati has become one of the beneficiaries of the new rating as the former national junior champion has moved up to top 100 to occupy 96th place in the world as the second highest ranked Nigerian.
The Week 14 of the 2023 ITTF World Rankings sees a complete shakeup in the global standings as the biggest culprit for the changes come from points won at Tokyo 2020 expiring.
With the women’s Singles rankings completely reshaped with nine of the top 10 women having moved, with world No.1 Sun Yingsha of China, the only player to remain in her spot.
However, Aruna maintains his status as the best rated player in Africa after gaining two places up the ranking ladder to be ranked 11th in the world.
Egypt’s Omar Assar dropped from the pecking order as the 2022 African Cup champion slid to 32 from 26 while Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa also gained 16 places up the ranking to be placed 74th in the world as the third best African in the ranking.
Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh dropped three places to occupy 83rd spot while Mati became the fifth best ranked African occupying 96th place in the rating.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref achieved her career high to place 25th in the ranking and despite dropping four places, teenage sensation Hana Goda still maintains her second place in Africa occupying 36th place.
Olympic and world champion Ma Long of China dropped to fourth place in the ranking while his compatriot – Wang Chuqin struck a career best ranking to jump up to World No.2. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto is also the beneficiary of a rankings boost, making his way up to World No.3. (Nation)
