Aruna Quadri, Nigerian professional table tennis player seeded number two in the upcoming International Table Tennis Federation Africa Top 16, has described his elevation as “a good one”.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Africa Table Tennis Federation had on Monday seeded the player second.
Quadri told NAN on the telephone from his base in Portugal that the seeding was done according to continental ranking.
He said: “At the last edition held in Lagos in 2014, I was seeded number three and now in 2016, I am seeded number two.
“It only shows that I have moved one step upward in the African ranking.
“The seeding is a fair one because points garnered are the determinant to where a player will be seeded.”
Quadri said being seeded or not would not determine how well or bad a player would perform at a competition.
He said: “Being seeded does not mean you will win the competition.
“Top seeded players are those that have participated in more competitions.
“In so doing, they have acquired more points than their mates.”
Quadri, who is based in Portugal, however, promised to give a good account of himself at the competition.
He said: “I have been preparing well for this competition and I pray to God to crown my efforts.
“I promise to give my best and make my country proud.”
NAN reports that Africa’s best table tennis players, Egypt’s Omar Assar and Nigeria’s Quadri, were the top seeded players at the competition.
Assar, who is the highest raked African player in the world, is seeded number one and Quadri, who was ranked number 37 in the February world ranking, is seeded number two.
The continent’s most decorated table tennis athlete, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola, is seeded number five.
The France-based player is aiming for his seventh Olympics appearance at the Olympics qualifiers slated for February 16 to 18.
NAN.
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