Nigeria’s hopes of clinching the 2020 ITTF Men’s World Cup has ended after a “major upset” in Friday’s knockout fixture.
Veteran player Aruna Quadri, 32, who was the clear favourite heading into the fixture was defeated by a Slovenian player ten years his junior – Darko Jorgic.
The International Table Tennis Federation’s website read: “the Slovenian has caused a major upset here in the final match of day [1], as he has managed to eliminate Quadri Aruna from the group stages and reach the round of 16!”
“Drawn in a group with two veterans of the sport, Darko Jorgic has shown his class and composure to come through with a decisive win. Sadly, for Aruna, he is unable to proceed to the knockouts on his sixth appearance at the Men’s World Cup,” the ITTF wrote.
The 32-year-old, ranked 20th in the world, fell 4-2; 11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 to the 22-year-old, ranked 34th in the world.
Latest results from Dishang ITTF Men’s World Cup Day 2
- Jang Woojin 4-2 Jeoung Youngsik (15-13, 11-9, 2-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6)
- Fan Zhendong 4-2 Lin Yun-Ju (12-10, 9-11, 11-2, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6)
- Ma Long 4-1 Dimitrij Ovtcharov (11-9, 11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5)
- Tomokazu Harimoto 4-1 Mattias Falck (11-9, 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11-9)
- Jang Woojin 4-3 Koki Niwa (11-13, 11-4, 12-14, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10)
- Jeoung Youngsik 4-2 Hugo Calderano (11-8, 14-16, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2, 11-7)
- Lin Yun-Ju 4-2 Patrick Franziska (15-13, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-2)
- Fan Zhendong 4-0 Chuang Chih-Yuan (11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6)
- Mattias Falck 4-3 Wong Chun Ting (8-11, 11-7, 14-12, 10-12, 11-6, 11-13, 17-15)
- Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3 Liam Pitchford (12-10, 9-11, 4-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-13, 11-7)
- Ma Long 4-2 Darko Jorgic (11-7, 12-14, 11-9, 11-13, 13-11, 11-3)
