In the ongoing 2023 World Table Tennis Singapore Smash, Nigerian table tennis player, Aruna Quadri defeated world No 4 Japanese player, Tomokazu Harimoto to qualify for the quarter final stage in the world table tennis Singapore Smash.
Quadri won the Men's Single Round of 16 with a commanding 3-0 (11-7, 13-11, 11-7) against Tomokazu Harimoto.
However, Quadri defeated French born player Alexis Lebrun 3-2 after rallying from a set down at the Singapore Sports Hub’s OCBC Arena on Tuesday to reach the round of 16.
Tomokazu Harimoto also defeated Can Akkuzu to secure a seat in the round of 16 after coming back from two sets down to win 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3).
Although, it is on record that Harimoto has beaten Quadri in their last three meetings, in the round of 16 of different competitions and Harimoto emerged victorious in all.
Interestingly, Quadri broke the curse by defeating the Japanese to reach the quarter-final of the WTT 2023 at commanding 3-0 (11-7, 13-11, 11-7).
Quadri will probably face either Hugo Calderano or Darko Jorgic in the next round of the WTT Singapore Smash.