Quadri Aruna is on the brink of an early exit at the ITTF World Cup after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Tomislav Pucar in his opening Group 6 match in Macao on Monday, The PUNCH reports. The 2026 ITTF World Cup began on March 30 at the Galaxy Arena, bringing together the world’s top players, but Aruna’s campaign got off to a difficult start as he fell 3-0, with Pucar winning 11-4, 12-10, 11-6 in their first-ever meeting. Aruna, who remains the only African to reach a World Cup quarterfinal following his run in 2014 in Düsseldorf, where he also claimed the ITTF World Player of the Year award, must now beat Sora Matsushima in his next group match on Tuesday morning to keep his hopes of progression alive. Only the group winner advances to the knockout stage, leaving the Nigerian needing a decisive response against the Japanese opponent if he is to avoid an early exit from the tournament. Although Aruna managed a brief run of five consecutive points, it was not enough to alter the outcome.

Source: Punch March 31, 2026 09:51 UTC