Nigeria’s table tennis ace Quadri Aruna has slipped one place in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Rankings, while compatriot Fatima Bello moved up in the women’s standings, bringing mixed fortunes for the country’s top paddlers.
In the ITTF Week 27 rankings released on Tuesday, Aruna dropped from 23rd to 24th globally, despite maintaining his tally of 1,140 points. The 36-year-old, who did not feature in any tournament during the review period, lost ground as others around him gained points.
Aruna’s current position is still largely sustained by previous achievements—especially his runner-up finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis (350 points) and his semi-final run at the WTT Star Contender in Doha (210 points). However, with these results nearing expiration and without recent activity, his ranking faces more pressure heading into upcoming ITTF events.
In contrast, Fatima Bello provided a glimmer of hope on the women’s side by climbing four spots to 92nd in the world, with a total of 230 points. Though she has not competed since May at the World Championships in Doha, she benefited from adjustments in the ranking system and retained key points from notable performances, including:
- A semi-final finish at the 2025 African Cup
- A quarter-final run at the 2024 African Championships
- Her contribution to Nigeria’s strong showing at the African Team Championships
- A Round of 64 finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Meanwhile, China continues to dominate both the men’s and women’s global rankings. Lin Shidong remains top of the men’s chart with 8,675 points, followed by Wang Chuqin (6,575) and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano (5,400) as the highest-ranked non-Asian player. In the women’s category, Sun Yingsha leads the world with 11,250 points, with compatriots Wang Manyu and Chen Xingtong trailing behind.
Among Nigeria’s other top male players:
- Olajide Omotayo dropped three places to 162nd (109 points)
- Matthew Kuti fell to 195th
- Muizz Adegoke slid to 231st
- Azeez Solanke suffered the sharpest decline, falling eight spots to 858th with only two points
However, 20-year-old Taiwo Mati brought a breath of fresh air with a five-place climb to 531st—marking the most significant upward movement among Nigerian players this week.
In the women’s rankings:
- Aminat Fashola dropped one spot to 182nd (90 points)
- Ajoke Ojomu rose two places to 194th (83 points)
- Veteran Offiong Edem dropped seven places to 261st
- Hope Udoaka and Sukurat Aiyelabegan are now ranked 282nd and 612th, respectively
The ITTF World Ranking is updated weekly and determines player eligibility, seeding, and qualifications for key tournaments, including the Olympics. Rankings are based on a player’s top eight results over a 12-month rolling window, with more prestigious events offering higher points.
While Aruna faces the challenge of defending past points amid fierce competition, Bello’s steady rise underscores the growing potential on the women’s side of Nigerian table tennis.
