Aruna Quadri begins the new year as the highest-ranked player in Africa following the latest world ranking by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

The Nigerian table tennis star is currently ranked 26th in the world while also retaining his number one spot in Africa ahead of his fiercest rival, Egypt’s Omar Assar.

Assar, however, maintained his 47th position having dropped due to his suspension by the Egyptian Table Tennis Federation in the past year.

In 2018, Aruna Quadri became the first Nigerian to win the ITTF Nigeria Open on home soil, he also won Gold at the singles event of the ITTF African Championship in Mauritius among other impressive achievements recorded last year.

Although currently 26th in the World, Aruna Quadri made the top 20 in the world twice last year, with the first time being at the beginning of the year in January 2018; becoming the first Nigerian to achieve this feat.

The 30-year-old from Oyo state would be hoping to rack up as many points as possible in the new year in order to return to the top 20 once again.