Quadri wins Portuguese table tennis player of the month award

IN continuation of his superb form since moving to Europe, Aruna Quadri’s unbeaten run in the Portuguese table tennis league received a major reward, as the Portuguese Table Tennis Association has named the 22-year-old Nigerian the player of the month.

Since the commencement of the Portuguese league in September, Quadri is yet to drop a match winning most of his matches and also helping his team, GDSR Os Toledos to top league table with 21 points from seven league games.

Individually, Quadri remains the best player in the league after playing 11 matches without losing and this confirmed that the young Nigerian has proved his worth in Europe and in his first season, he was named the best player in the league with Associação Recreativa Novelense.

For the first time in the history of Associação Recreativa Novelense, Quadri single-handedly took the team to the final of the 2010/2011 League Season before losing to his present club.

It was Quadri’s exploits in his first season in the Portuguese league that prompted GDSR Os Toledos to sign the Nigerian.

Since joining the team this season, Quadri has inspired the team to many victories including their performance at the European Super Cup in Turkey and Slovenia.

Fortnight ago, Quadri aided his team’s triumph over the club of his compatriots – Seun Ajetunmobi and Kazeem Nosiru.

According to the Portuguese Table Tennis Association, the player of the month award was given to Quadri following his brilliant performances against top three players like Zheng Shun, Énio Mendes and André Silva.

In their last league match against his former team, Quadri began the onslaught when he overcame the Chinese player in the team with a 3-1 win.

His teammates, Diego Silver and Sas Lasan also won their matches before Quadri’s partnership with Silver completed the rout to make it 4-0.

A joyful Quadri told journalists from his base in Portugal that he hopes to lead his team to defend the title they won last season.

“It is great to be adjudged the best in the Portuguese league because it is not an easy league in Europe. I had played against their best players as well as some of the top Chinese players in the league. But I will be complacent thinking that I had arrived, as I will continue to work hard to ensure that I justified my joining GDSR Os Toledos this season. Although I am still hoping for tough challenge because we still have lots of matches to play this season,” the All Africa Games bronze medalist said.