Assar dethrones Aruna as Africa’s No.1

For the first time in recent years, Egypt’s Omar Assar will be displacing Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna as the best-ranked African player in the world.

According to the 2024 Week 12 Ranking released by ITTF, Assar who made it to the last 16 of the just-concluded Singapore Smash, coupled with his victory over Aruna at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, jumped five steps up to occupy the 17th spot in the ranking, while Aruna dropped down by eight steps to be ranked 19th in the world.

Assar wanted to equal Aruna’s 2023 quarter-finals record at this year’s Singapore Smash but a clever display by Indian legend Sharath Achanta halted the Egyptian’s dream as the Asian ran away with a 3-0 win to prevent Assar’s last-eight run.

But Assar’s round of 16 feat was enough to improve his world rating as the Egyptian returns to the pinnacle of the ranking in Africa after he surrendered the top to the Nigerian some months back.

Also, former world number one Fan Zhendong of China has been displaced by compatriot Wang Chuqin after the left-hand Chinese star defeated France’s Felix Lebrun to emerge as the new champion of the Singapore Smash at the weekend.

Also, German legend Timo Boll has started climbing the ladder of the rankings after his impressive quarter-final feat at the Singapore Smash to rise to 26th place in the ranking, while Indian Achanta also moved up to occupy 34th place in the world.