Aruna defeats Korea’s Sang Su at Saudi Smash

Aruna defeats Korea’s Sang Su at Saudi Smash

Quadri Aruna continued his superb display at the ongoing WTT Saudi Smash taking place at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah after taking down Lee Sang Su of South Korea 3-2 in the second round of the men’s singles

However, Lee Sang Su launched a fierce comeback, taking the third and fourth games 9-11 and 7-11 to force a deciding game.

The final game was a nail-biting affair, Aruna raced to a 4-1 lead, but Lee Sang Su fought back to tie it at 4-4. Despite Aruna’s powerful shots, the Korean opponent showcased remarkable resilience, even leading 10-8 at one point.

Aruna, the first and only African to reach the quarterfinals at the ITTF World Cup, will battle Portugal’s Marcos Freitas and Puerto Rico’s Daniel Gonzalez.

Aruna displayed true championship spirit, clawing his way back point by point. He capitalized on missed shots from his opponent and tied the score at 10-10. Though Lee Sang Su gained another point advantage, Aruna’s unwavering determination shone through. He matched the Korean shot for shot, eventually securing a dramatic 13-11 victory.

With this hard-fought win, Aruna becomes the second player to reach the round of 16, joining Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan.

This year’s NTTF-sanctioned event attracted a record number of participants, with 28 states vying for glory in 14 different categories.

Aruna next challenge will be another Korean opponent, Daeseong Cho, in their match scheduled for tomorrow.