Quadri Aruna drops by one step in the new ITTF ranking
Team Nigeria’s top table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, dropped one place in the latest International Table Tennis Federation World Ranking, as fellow compatriot Fatima Bello recorded a modest climb in the women’s category.
In the ITTF’s week 27 rankings published on Tuesday, Aruna fell from 23rd to 24th in the world despite maintaining his total of 1,140 points.
The 36-year-old, who did not participate in any event during the review week, was overtaken due to point movements by other players.
His current position is based on cumulative points from past performances, most notably his runner-up finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup in Tunis, which earned him 350 points, and a semi-final showing at the WTT Star Contender Doha earlier this year, which added 210 points.
With several of those results nearing expiration and without recent competitive participation, Aruna’s ranking is now under pressure ahead of the other upcoming ITTF tournaments.
While Aruna saw a drop, Nigeria’s Fatima Bello offered a bright spark on the women’s side, moving up four places to rank 92nd in the world with 230 points.
Bello, who has not competed since May at the World Championships in Doha, benefited from favourable adjustments in the rankings.
Although she has not added fresh points since week 19, her key results, including a semi-final finish at the 2025 ITTF African Cup and a quarter-final run at the 2024 African Championships, continue to count towards her total.
Her performance at the African Team Championships, where she featured in Nigeria’s final run, also contributed significantly, alongside her round of 64 finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In the broader men’s rankings, China continues to dominate the sport with four of the top five places. Lin Shidong retained his position at the summit with 8,675 points, followed by compatriot Wang Chuqin on 6,575 points.
Brazil’s Hugo Calderano remains the top-ranked non-Asian player at third with 5,400 points. Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and China’s Liang Jingkun complete the top five with 4,550 and 4,200 points, respectively.
For Nigeria, the drop in Aruna’s ranking was compounded by a downward movement among other senior male players. Olajide Omotayo fell three places to 162nd with 109 points. Matthew Kuti dropped one place to 195th, while Muizz Adegoke slipped two places to 231st.
Azeez Solanke suffered the steepest fall among all 12 ranked men and women Nigerian players, going down eight places to 858th with just two points.
However, there was a glimmer of positivity in the performance of 20-year-old Taiwo Mati, who rose five places to 531st, the biggest upward shift among Nigerian athletes this week. Mati, one of Nigeria’s most promising youth prospects, continues to fight his way up the rankings with incremental gains at smaller international events.
On the women’s side, the dominance of Chinese athletes remains unchallenged. Sun Yingsha leads the world with an imposing 11,250 points, followed by Wang Manyu (6,765), Chen Xingtong (5,425), Wang Yidi (4,415), and Kuai Man (4,255).
Other Nigerian women in the rankings include Aminat Fashola, who fell one place to 182nd with 90 points, and Ajoke Ojomu, who climbed two places to 194th with 83 points.
Veteran Offiong Edem slipped seven places to 261st, while Hope Udoaka and Sukurat Aiyelabegan now sit at 282nd and 612th, respectively.
The ITTF World Ranking is published weekly and serves as a key determinant for entries, seedings, and qualifications for global competitions, including the Olympics.
It is based on a player’s top eight performances over a rolling 12-month period, with different tournament tiers offering varying points. While the system does not penalise players for losses, it places premium importance on consistency and strategic participation.
