By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 14, 2023

Reigning African champions, Quadri Aruna will face Yaroslav Zhmudenko in the quarter-finals of the ongoing WTT Contender Durban taking place at the Olive Convention Center Durban in South Africa, Saturday (today).

Quadri started off his quest for his first title in 2023 defeating China’s Sun Wen 3-1 (12-10, 15-13, 11-13, 11-8) in the round of 32, edged Felix Lebrun 3-2 in a keenly contested the round of 16 game on Friday.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medalist produced his best performance this year against the giant-killing European star winning the game 3-11, 11-6, 10-12, 15-13, 11-5.

Despite losing the first game at 3-11, Aruna restored parity in the second game at 11-6. But the Frenchman dazed Aruna in the third game and despite leading 10-7, Lebrun took five consecutive points to win at 12-10.

Even when Aruna was on the brink of exiting in the fourth game with the French star needing a point to complete his win, Aruna fought well to win the game at 15-13. The deciding match was dominated by the Nigerian as he won 11-5 to end the dream of Lebrun in South Africa.

The tournament ends on Sunday with the finals in the singles events.

Meanwhile Dina Meshref of Egypt also confirmed her status as one of the continent’s best after taking down their French and Polish opponents in the round of 16 of the WTT Contender Durban 2023.

Facing off against World No.86 Yuan Wan of Germany, who came out on top in their one and only previous meeting at WTT Feeder Düsseldorf II 2022, Meshref was determined to put things right at the second time of trying, and she secured her revenge.

With the whole of Africa behind her and the Egyptian star embraced her time in the spotlight, producing a sublime display to see off Wan 3-1 (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9), to set up a round of 16 showdown with World No.67 Natalia Bajor in the process.

It was a one-sided encounter between Meshref and her Polish opponent as the Egyptian claimed a convincing 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-8) to get a passage into the quarter-final of the women’s singles.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 14, 2023

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