Quadri Aruna’s quest for Olympic glory came to an abrupt end in the men’s singles table tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Nigerian player was defeated by Romania’s Eduard Ionescu with a score of 4-3 in a dramatic comeback.

Aruna, competing in his fourth consecutive Olympic Games, initially dominated the match, winning the first three sets 11-8, 11-9, and 11-6.

However, Ionescu, the Romanian teenager, began his comeback by winning the fourth set 11-8. He continued his resurgence by claiming the fifth set 12-10, forcing a sixth set, which he won 11-9, leveling the score at 3-3.

The final set was a tense battle, but Ionescu emerged victorious with a 13-11 win, eliminating Aruna from the competition. This match echoed their previous encounter at the 2024 European Champions League, where Ionescu also prevailed 3-2.

Aruna’s performance at Paris 2024 marks a disappointing turn after his historic run to the quarterfinals at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he became the first African to achieve that feat.

Team Nigeria’s Day 2 Schedule at Paris 2024 Olympics

BOXING
Arena Paris Nord
10:48 – Preliminaries Round of 16
Olaitan Adam Olaore (NGR) vs Aibeck Oralbay (KAZ)

FOOTBALL
La Beaujoire Stadium, Nantes
18:00 – Women’s Group C
Spain vs Nigeria

TABLE TENNIS
South Paris Arena 4
21:00 – Women’s Singles
Offiong Edem (NGR) vs Bruna Takahashi (BRA)