Nigerian's Aruna QUADRI continues his mesmerizing rise in international table tennis, as he has been listed as world number 30 in November's International Table Tennis world ranking.
This marks the highest ever ranking for an African table tennis player, which shows the rise of the continent in professional table tennis.
The historic ranking position for the 26 year old from Lagos, Nigeria, who now plays professionally in Portugal, comes on the back of an unforgettable LIEBHERR 2014 Men's World Cup, where QUADRI made the quarterfinals.
On his way to the quarterfinals, the charismatic Nigerian beat world number 27 Kenta MATSUDAIRA (JPN), world number 37 Alexander SHIBAEV (RUS) and world number 16 TANG Peng (HKG) to announce himself on the world stage.
The father of one was ranked a lowly 237 in February this year, so to rise so quickly to number 30 in the world is a testament to his extraordinary talents.
Upon hearing the news, an emotional QUADRI stated: "It's just like am dreaming. When I saw the world ranking, I started to cry because I was so happy. All my hard work and motivation has turned the impossible, into possible."
QUADRI was not the only Men's World Cup star to jump in the rankings. Marcos FREITAS (POR) moves from 12th to ninth, Tiago APOLONIA (POR) from 17th to 13th and Chen Chien-An (TPE) moved from 22ndto 17th.
Asian Games Champion XU Xin (CHN) continues to lead the way at the top of the world rankings, with the runner up from the LIEBHERR 2014 Men's World Cup MA Long (CHN) moving into the second position. Youth Olympic Games Champion FAN Zhendong (CHN) drops down to third, above the LIEBHERR 2014 Men's World Cup Champion ZHANG Jike (CHN) in fourth.
There were also some big movers in the women's rankings after a busy October. Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN), who finished 3rdat the ITTF 2014 Women's World Cup has moved from ninth to sixth, and Georgina POTA (HUN) who lost to ISHIKAWA in the third place play off has moved up nine places to a career best of 26thin the world.
Women's World Cup Champion DING Ning (CHN) tops the world rankings for the second consecutive month ahead of her teammates LIU Shiwen and LI Xiaoxia who sit in second and third respectively.
Quick Links:
Men's World Rankings:http://www.edm.ittf.com/link.php?M=40012&N=737&L=1201&F=H
Women's World Rankings:http://www.edm.ittf.com/link.php?M=40012&N=737&L=1202&F=H
Under 21 Boys World Rankings:http://www.edm.ittf.com/link.php?M=40012&N=737&L=1200&F=H
Under 21 Girls World Rankings:http://www.edm.ittf.com/link.php?M=40012&N=737&L=1199&F=H
For any other questions or queries, please contact ITTF's Promotion Manager Matt Pound at mpound@ittfmail.com.
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