Nigeria’s top table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, has dropped one place in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Ranking, while compatriot Fatima Bello made a modest climb in the women’s standings.
According to the ITTF’s week 27 rankings released on Tuesday, Aruna slipped from 23rd to 24th position globally despite retaining his total of 1,140 points.
The 36-year-old’s drop in the rankings is attributed to shifts in other players’ points, as he did not feature in any event during the review period.
Aruna’s current standing is still buoyed by previous achievements, notably his runner-up finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis, which earned him 350 points, and a semi-final appearance at the WTT Star Contender in Doha, which brought in 210 points.
However, with several of those results nearing expiration and a lack of recent competitive action, the Nigerian star faces growing pressure to maintain his position ahead of upcoming tournaments.
In contrast, Fatima Bello provided a ray of hope for Nigeria on the women’s front. She climbed four places to 92nd in the world with 230 points, despite not competing since May at the World Championships in Doha.
Bello’s rise was aided by favourable adjustments in the rankings.
Her ascent is backed by solid performances over the past year, including a semi-final finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup, a quarter-final run at the 2024 African Championships, and her role in Nigeria’s silver medal finish at the African Team Championships.
Her appearance in the round of 64 at the Paris 2024 Olympics also continues to count in her favour.
Meanwhile, China remains dominant in both the men’s and women’s global rankings. Lin Shidong tops the men’s chart with 8,675 points, followed by compatriot Wang Chuqin with 6,575 points.
Brazil’s Hugo Calderano sits third with 5,400 points, making him the highest-ranked non-Asian player. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto (4,550) and China’s Liang Jingkun (4,200) complete the top five.
On the Nigerian men’s side, there were further setbacks as several players experienced drops. Olajide Omotayo fell three places to 162nd, Matthew Kuti dropped one place to 195th, and Muizz Adegoke slipped two spots to 231st.
Azeez Solanke recorded the biggest decline, plummeting eight places to 858th with just two points.
However, there was a positive development for 20-year-old Taiwo Mati, who climbed five places to 531st, marking the largest upward movement among Nigerian players this week.
Mati continues to show promise with steady progress at lower-tier international events.
In the women’s rankings, China’s dominance remains unshaken. Sun Yingsha leads the pack with 11,250 points, followed by Wang Manyu (6,765), Chen Xingtong (5,425), Wang Yidi (4,415), and Kuai Man (4,255).
Among other Nigerian women, Aminat Fashola dropped one place to 182nd with 90 points, while Ajoke Ojomu moved up two places to 194th with 83 points.
Veteran Offiong Edem slipped seven places to 261st, while Hope Udoaka and Sukurat Aiyelabegan occupy the 282nd and 612th positions, respectively.
The ITTF World Rankings are updated weekly and are crucial for tournament entries, seedings, and qualification for global events, including the Olympics.
The ranking system considers a player’s best eight performances over a rolling 12-month period, with points awarded based on the level and outcome of competitions.
While the system does not deduct points for losses, it emphasizes consistent participation and strategic planning.