Friends became foes yesterday at the ongoing ITTF World Tour China Open as Aruna Quadri clashed against club teammate- Diogo Carvalho in the second stage of the preliminary round of men’s singles with the Nigerian having a big edge in the encounter.
Despite not been listed among the top ranked 16 seeded players, Quadri got a bye to the second stage of the preliminary round and was set up against Carvalho and the match lived up to expectation as the familiar foes gave the Chinese fans something to cheer during the tie.
The match was spiced with frequent rally shots by both players with the superb forehand shot of Quadri winning vital points for him in the encounter.
It was clear from the start of the match that it would not be an easy task for Quadri but without much hassle the African Champion proved his rating with a convincing 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7) win to set up another tie against Portugal’s Diogo Chen tomorrow May 29.
Also in the second round of the preliminary, Egypt’s Omar Assar had a walkover over Uzbekistan’s Zokhid Kenjaev, while Ahmed Saleh had an easy win in the first round of the preliminary as the veteran Egyptian defeated United States’ Ye Tian 4-1 (11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5). He progressed to the third round after another convincing 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8) win over Finland’s Benedek Olah.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw tasted defeat in his first outing at the China Open as the Denmark-based star fell 3-4 (4-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 6-11) to Korea’s Minha Hwang in the first round.
Egypt’s Khaled Assar was on the losing side when he was walloped 4-0 (9-11, 4-11, 7-11, 2-11) by Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson but Mohamed El-Beiali’s stay in China came to an end after the Egyptian copped an injury in his encounter against Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa to exit the competition.
For the third round tie, Aruna Quadri will battle Portugal’s Diogo Chen, Omar Assar will slug it out with Portugal’s Joao Monteiro, Saleh will take on Japan’s Masataka Morizono.
The 16 players that will join the 16 seeded players in the main draw will be determined today after the fourth round of the preliminary later today.