Quadri Loses Africa Cup Final

Africa’s top-ranked table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, has rued his missed chance to emerge champion in the men’s singles at the 2023 ITTF-Africa Cup, Tidesports source reports.
Quadri who had outclassed El-Beiali Mohamed 4-0 in the semi-final, lost 4-1 (8-11,13-15,7-11,11-9,7-11) to Egyptian Omar Assar in the best of seven men’s singles final at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani indoor gymnasium.
In winning the 2023 Africa Cup, Assar chucked up his 10th career ITTF Africa title having won the 2018 edition in Nairobi.
Speaking after his defeat, Quadri admitted that he should have been more patient during the game.
“I should have been more patient with the game,” Quadri said.
I think I did my best but it was one of those days. Things were not really working for me. Table tennis is a game of chances and you have to charge from the word go.”
Assar who played the final with pain caused by an inflamed back said after his historic that the final was his toughest.
“This will perhaps go down as the hardest ever ITTF Africa event that I have ever played,” Assar said.
“I was very close to quitting when I arrived in Nairobi with a back injury, but thanks to the Kenyan medical team for their efforts, as this wouldn’t have been possible. I feel for Aruna, he is a great player.”