Nigerian table tennis star Quadri Aruna is set to face Sweden’s Anton Kallberg in a crucial group stage match at the 2025 ITTF World Cup in Macao, China, on Wednesday. Aruna aims to break a four-match losing streak against Kallberg and secure a spot in the knockout rounds for the first time since 2014.
Aruna began his campaign with a 3-1 victory over Benin’s Abdel-Kader Salifou, despite a hamstring issue. Kallberg, who leads Group 16 after a 4-0 win over Salifou, has dominated their recent encounters, including straight-set victories in Macao.
Reflecting on their rivalry, Aruna expressed determination: “I plan to relax on Tuesday and see how it goes. I lost to him in our last three meetings, but I hope to get my revenge this time.” Kallberg acknowledged the challenge, stating, “We’ve played quite often in the last few years and know each other well. I’ll review our past matches and prepare accordingly.”
In other matches, Egypt’s Hana Goda, Dina Meshref, and Omar Assar continue their quests for knockout qualification. Assar, who began his campaign on Tuesday, secured a commanding 4-0 win over Cameroon’s Ylane Batix and faces South Korea’s An Jaehyun in a must-win encounter. Goda will face Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, while Meshref takes on China’s Man Kuai in their final group ties.
The tournament continues to showcase intense competition as players vie for advancement in the prestigious event.
