Quadri Aruna remains the highest-ranked African player globally, holding the 11th position, ahead of African Games winner Omar Assar of Egypt, who is at 22nd place. Nigerian player Offiong Edem leads the advancement of African players in the latest 2024-week 11 rankings by the International Table Tennis Federation released on Tuesday.
The most recent rankings were announced after the table tennis competition at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana.
Edem, who secured the bronze in the women’s singles event in Ghana, climbed 45 places to become the top-ranked female Nigerian player in the world, now at 97th position.
Yet, the most significant mover globally is Algeria’s Lucie Mobarek, who was previously unranked but surged 544 spots to reach 103rd position as the highest-ranked Algerian female player worldwide. Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw, the bronze medalist in the men’s singles event, also experienced an upward shift of 26 places, now standing at 67th in the world.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Hana Goda retain their positions as the top-ranked African female players, holding 26th and 30th place, respectively.
Egyptian men’s singles quarter-finalist Khaled Assar advanced 146 places, now ranked 145th globally.
The most significant progress was made by the Tunisian trio Wassim Essid, Youssef Ben Attia and Khalil Sta, who all gained steps in their world rankings after securing the bronze in the men’s team event.
Young talent Essid ascended 83 places, now at the 206th position, while Ben Attia and Sta jumped 221 places, currently at 237th and 238th place, respectively.
