Nigerian table tennis star, Aruna Quadri has spoken candidly about his defeat to Omar Assar in the 2023 ITTF African Cup final in Kenya.

After a strong performance in the semi-finals, Quadri was ultimately defeated in the championship game by the Egyptian, 4-1 (8-11, 13-15, 7-11, 11-9, 7-11) at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

“I think I did my best, but it was one of those days. Things were not really working for me,” Quadri noted.

“Table tennis is a game of chances and you have to charge from the word go. I should have been more patient with the game.”

Quadri also lost to the Egyptian in the final of the Africa Cup in Lagos last year; he surrendered the game after suffering an injury during the match.

He however beat Omar when they met in Algeria at the African Championship as the rivalry between the two as the best players on the continent continues to blow hot.