After a disappointing round of 16 loss to Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, Quadri Aruna’s 2025 ITTF World Championships campaign in Doha came to an end on Thursday.
Hugo Calderano of Brazil completely outplayed the Nigerian star in a round of 16 men’s singles match at Lusail Arena.
Despite being hailed as one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches, Quadri did not live up to the hype as he controlled the entire match, winning 4-0 with scores of 11-4, 11-4, 11-6, and 11-4.
Aruna’s dreaded forehand was well neutralized by Calderano, demonstrating his tactical prowess by driving exchanges to the Nigerian’s backhand, where Aruna found it difficult to take the upper hand.
After the match, Calderano acknowledged Aruna’s caliber, noting the challenge he posed.
“It is never easy to maintain top form every competition, especially after winning the ITTF World Cup last month. I had to rest and train hard, because table tennis is unpredictable. Against a player like Aruna, you must always be at your best,” he said.
In Doha, he was the only African player to reach the top 16, further affirming his place in the sport’s history.