Aruna Quadri has sensationally sent out shock waves in Rio to also shoot himself into history in the Olympics after smashing out world number one and current world number 13, Timo Boll in the Men’s singles Table Tennis event.
With this feat, the 28-year-old Nigerian is now the first ever African Olympic quarter finalist in the sport of table tennis, making it the perfect birthday gift for Aruna, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Tuesday.
He raced to a 3-0 lead and looked like an unstoppable force for most of the match.
A comeback was on the cards as Boll, who was a favourite for a medal here in Rio, fought back to 3-2, taking the fourth and fifth games in comfortable fashion.
But it was a case of too little too late.
Aruna held his nerve and used his unique brand of athletic shot making to take the sixth game 11-9 and win the match.
“This is amazing! I don’t know what to say. My fans made me do this. Thank you for all the Brazilian spectators for their support. They gave me so much energy. This feels so good, it is a dream come true that I am in the quarter finals,” said the world number 40 after his spectacular win.
Boll, who had the honour of carrying the German flag in the Opening Ceremony, once again had to reflect on an early Olympic exit: “He has surprised a lot of people. I knew he was good coming into the match. I just have to say well played! His whole game is different, so it took me awhile to work it out. Once I was 0-3 down I started to get more into the match, but it was already too late.”
Aruna now progresses through to the quarterfinals where he will face MA Long.
The celebrations were palpable as Aruna is set to exorcise the ghost of Nigeria not winning a single medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
