WTT Cup Finals: Aruna flies Africa flag in Singapore

Quadri Aruna will expectedly carry the home of the continent at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Cup Finals holding in Singapore between December 4 and 7.

The Nigerian is the only African listed for the tournament after his quarterfinal finish at the just concluded ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Houston, Texas.

The tournament has the world’s top 20 players competing in the singles event (men and women) at the OCBC Arena in Singapore in the $600,000 prize money end-of-the-year championships.

Being the only African listed for the tournament, Aruna said he will surely give his best in the tournament.

“I am going to give my best as usual because this is the assembly of the best in the world and it promises to be exciting. It is not easy playing in the last two weeks with a lot of travelling but I am ready for this challenge as an athlete, “ Aruna said.

He added: “This will be my second time playing in the WTT Cup Finals and I remember vividly very well last year that I played in China and Singapore will be second. I’m very happy and excited as I am looking forward to it. Of course, it’s not going to be very easy, but it is the same kind of situation for all participants. I’m going there to enjoy myself and see how it will go without any pressure,” he added.

In Singapore, some of the best players in the men’s and women’s singles will be vying for the honour to become the first-ever WTT Cup Finals champions.

The WTT Cup Finals are the new season-ending events of the WTT Series, with two separate WTT Cup Finals – men’s singles and doubles and women’s singles and doubles.

However, due to the on-going challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s WTT Cup Finals Singapore will consist of a combined event featuring men’s and women’s 16-player singles draws only. The participants will share a prize pool of $600,000 – with men and women players being awarded equal prize money.