Her achievement marks a major breakthrough for African women in table tennis and highlights the continent’s growing presence on the global stage. Goda’s remarkable run unfolded in Macao, China, on Friday. The French veteran forced a decider, and in the seventh game, Goda found herself trailing 7-10. While Aruna’s early exit underlined the challenge African men face at the highest level, Goda’s success signals a new dawn for African table tennis, particularly for women. 1 Sun Yingsha of China in the quarterfinals, a test that will define whether she can continue her historic run.

Source: Punch April 04, 2026 04:35 UTC