Omar Assar’s impressive performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has propelled him up the world rankings. The Egyptian table tennis star has risen five spots to claim 17th place in the ITTF rankings, as announced on Tuesday, August 6, during Week 32 of 2024.
This advancement positions Assar as the top-ranked African table tennis player, surpassing Quadri Aruna, who is now in 20th place. Despite a 4-1 defeat to Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the Men’s Singles quarterfinals, Assar has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African player to reach consecutive Olympic quarterfinals, equaling Aruna’s achievement from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw, despite an early exit in Paris, moved up six places to 83rd, while Olajide Omotayo, the 2019 African Games champion, made a significant jump of 12 places to 92nd, becoming the second-best mover in African table tennis.
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Nigeria-born Saheed Idowu, representing Congo Brazzaville, lost a thrilling 4-3 match to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg but won the hearts of many, moving up 16 places to the 100th spot.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref continues to dominate the African rankings, ascending two places to 24th, while Hana Goda also made gains, moving up to 31st. Nigeria’s Offiong Edem re-entered the top 100, climbing 14 places to 97th.
The retired Cameroonian star Sarah Hanffou concluded her career ranked 109th , and Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello made a significant jump of 26 places to 118th in the latest rankings.
These movements reflect the dynamic and competitive nature of African table tennis, showcasing the talent and resilience of its players on the global stage.
