Quadri, Russia’s Polina win ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open
Aruna Quadri yesterday claimed the men’s singles title at the ITTF Nigeria Open Challenge Plus by defeating Austria’s Gardos Robert 4-2. The victory gave Quadri the trophy and the $7,000 top prize money.
At the competition held at the Molade Okoya Hall of the Teslim Stadium, Surulere in Lagos, an injured Quadri held on to win the six-game thriller 15-13, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-1.
In the women’s singles game, Russia’s Mikhailova Polina went head to head in an exciting 4-3 come back to beat her compatriot, Noskova Yana.
An excited Quadri said after the game: “I am very happy I got this title again. In the beginning, I faced some difficulties because I had a neck injury, but I managed to gain confidence after my previous victory.”
Quadri is looking ahead to his next challenge, which is the forthcoming Africa Games in Morocco.
“For now, I have to take care of my health because I have been representing Nigeria for the past 11 days.
“Without taking treatment, I don’t know if I would be able to go to the Africa Games.”
In the men’s double event, Nuytinck Cedric and Robinot Quentin defeated Nigeria’s duo of Toriola Segun and Omotayo Olajide 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 12-10), while Russian duo of Mikhailova Polina and Noskova Yana won the women’s doubles event by beating Croatian duo of Jazbec Ida and Malobabic Ivana 3-2 (8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11, 7-11).
