Lagos – Nigerian professional table tennis player Aruna Quadri says his target is to make the world top 20 and maintain it in the monthly International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) ranking.
Quadri told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Thursday from his Portugal base that he would not relent until he achieved his aim.
He moved 13 steps upward in the February ITTF ranking to be rated 37.
Quadri said: “Well, I thank God for the improvement, but I see this latest ranking as one of the many steps to achieving the target I have set for myself.
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“For me, to achieve my target is a gradual process and I see this as preparatory to getting there.
“I won’t call it an achievement per se because I don’t see myself where I ought to be yet.
“If I am among the top 20, then I can say I am achieving in table tennis.
“I know with God and total commitment on my side, I will get there,’’ Quadri said.
The 2014 ITTF star player described his performance at the just-concluded German Open held from Jan. 27 to Jan. 31 in Berlin as “not too bad’’.
According to him, qualifying into the main draw gladdens his heart.
“I had a nice outing which was not too bad. I have never qualified into the main draw in any super series. This is my very first time and I am happy for this record.
“I played in the rounds of 32 out of 440 players, sixteen players were seeded into the main draw and I was the first to be seeded,’’ he said.
The Portugal-based professional appealed for more sponsorship from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigerians.
“I need more support through sponsorship to attend more tournaments. It is also essential that I train in places with the best facilities.
“This will help to encourage me to put up spectacular performances,’’ Quadri said.
NAN reports that Egypt’s Omar Assar maintained his status as Africa’s best player in the world in spite of dropping from 29 to 31. (NAN)
