Quadri Aruna has expressed disappointment following his elimination from the ongoing ITTF World Cup Macao 2024 on Wednesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 35-year-old failed to match his best finish — a quarter-final feat at the tournament — after losing 3-1 (12-10, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11) to Portuguese Marcos Freitas in the deciding match of Group 15 of the men’s singles.
He also missed a chance to even head-to-head scores with Freitas at the tournament. Freitas now leads Aruna 3-1 in their head-to-head record.
“The first three sets were so close and could have gone either way like it happened, “Aruna said after the defeat.
“But that happens in the game, I lost and it was hurtful.”
The defeat was Aruna’s second at the tournament, his first being a 4-0 drubbing by Daniel Gonzalez of Croatia on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, 2023 African Cup winner Omar Assar crashed out of the tournament in the round of 16 following a 4-2 loss to Shunsuke Togami from Japan at the Galaxy Arena on Thursday.
Togami will face two-time men’s World Cup winner Ma Long, promising an intense showdown on Friday.
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