Table tennis: Humble hero Quadri Aruna leading the way for Africa on and off court

For up-and-coming table tennis prospects in Nigeria, chances are the country's top men's player Quadri Aruna has helped them in some way.

Ranked 21st in the world (as of 1 June 2021), Aruna is the world's best African, and has qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021 by virtue of his world ranking.

But behind the successful paddler, who won Commonwealth Games silver in 2018 and is the defending men's singles African continental champion, is a humble man who has never forgotten his roots in Nigeria's Oyo State.

Annual contributions to table tennis and to charity are just some ways this national hero keeps himself grounded and humble.

Having an impact

Aruna is a household name in Nigeria and across Africa, having surged in popularity after he defeated two top-10 players in Chuang Chih-yuan and Timo Boll at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

"I was aware the whole world was watching, not just Nigeria and Africa," he recalled in an interview in 2018.

"My performance in Rio really made table tennis much more popular in Nigeria. Whenever I am in the airport now so many officials recognise me now and on the streets, not just where I came from, so many people wave."

And he knows that with the eyes of the world increasingly on him as he continues to enjoy success at the highest levels, he can leave a lasting impression not just with his style of play, but away from the table too.

"I am conscious of the kind of impact I can have on the lives of a lot of people across the world," he told the ITTF last year.

"I ensure I remain positive and a good ambassador of my country wherever I find myself," Aruna added. "I will not be carried away by my profile. I'm humbled by it and remain focused on maintaining my status in the global rating."

Supporting the next generation

Indeed, Aruna – the first African to reach the Olympic Games quarter-finals in table tennis – is an example in philanthropy every year, often donating equipment and kit to the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation as well as contributing to local orphanages.

In 2020, the 32-year-old provided equipment worth nearly 1400 euro (U.S. $1700) to two Nigerian para table tennis players, who will make their Paralympic Games debuts in Tokyo.

And earlier this year, Aruna sponsored equipment for six table tennis players in Nigeria for 12 months, including under-13 world number one Musa Mustapha.

In the 2018 interview, the Nigerian shared that he tells youngsters that "I have achieved what I have through hard work, self-confidence and that they can always do it, nothing is impossible.

"For the ones who are getting support, I tell them I did not get this support, so they are going to be much better than me."

Ambassador for the sport

In Aruna's youth, his studies came first – his parents, especially his teacher mother, made sure of that.

"At the beginning my parents were not supportive, they wanted me to focus on my education," he said.

His mother Shakirat, interviewed for the ITTF piece, confirmed it. "There was a time I had to caution Oluwole (one of Aruna's first coaches, Abolarin Oluwole) not to allow table tennis ruin my son's studies," she said, "not knowing that this is what will bring fame and fortune to him.

"He has been helping the family since he moved to Europe and I can say that he is our breadwinner," she added.

His family, his state, his country, and his continent all look up to him. "He is very generous to us," Oluwole told the ITTF. "We see him as our ambassador."

Now, this African pioneer has his sights set on breaking more barriers on the table at Tokyo 2020 in 2021.

"Like every athlete, I want to do better than I have done before. I want better results in Tokyo.

"I am always thinking about it."