Nigerian table tennis sensation, Aruna Quadri has earned a massive round of encomiums from his German club’s president, Stefan Frauenholz, following his spirited efforts in leading them to another victory, megasportsarena.com reports.
The club boss was grinning from ear-to-ear, after Quadri lived up to expectations yet another game of the German Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and saved his team, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell from the brink of defeat to beat reigning champions, Saarbrücken 3-2 at the weekend.
The visitors were on their way to emphatic win, but Quadri’s display changed the tone of the game for the home team, as he beat Darko Jorgic 3- 0 (11- 5, 11- 9, 11- 2) and gave RhönSprudel hope of a comeback.
Earlier, Ruwen Filus and Fan Bo Meng both lost 3-0 (5-11, 6-11, 10-12) and 3-1 (7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 9-11) to Patrick Franziska and Shang Kun respectively, but Quadri’s win motivated the comeback by RhönSprudel against the star-studded visitors.
The former Portugal-based ping-pong star’s victory inspired Filus to record his first league win, and the German international beat Shang Kun 3-1 (11- 8, 11- 5, 8-11, 11- 7) to put the tie at 2-2, after which Quadri returned to the table to partner Meng in the deciding doubles win against Franziska and Jorgic.
Quadri’s forehand supported by the backhand topspin of Meng confused Franziska and Jorgic to hand TTC 3-0 (11-5, 15-13, 11- 7) win to the admiration of the TTC fans and sheer delight from Frauenholz, who pointed out that the Nigerian ace showed why he remains one of the most sought after table tennis players in the world.
Frauenholz posited: “Quadri Aruna initiated the turnaround in the third duel of the day, the 3-0 win over Darko Jorgic a clear sign of the qualities that lie dormant in the Nigerian.
“Especially in the first (11: 5) and third set (11: 2) Aruna didn’t give Jorgic a chance and was able to go into the doubles with Meng with confidence. When you win against the reigning German champions, that’s something special.”
