Today, all eyes will be on the Disneyland Arena in Paris, where the Liebherr Men’s World Cup 2018 will take centre stage, for a three-day event that promises to thrill spectators all around the world.
The table tennis games will begin as the world watches to see who will take home the coveted crown, in a venue that couldn’t have been more befitting for the battle for world table tennis superiority.
Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri will join the 19 best players in the world to compete for a chance to lift the trophy and also share in the $250,000 championship prize money.
Having recorded a remarkable feat at the 2014 edition of the tournament, in Dusseldorf, Germany — where the Nigerian became the first African to break into the quarterfinals stage of the championship – Quadri is quite upbeat about this year’s event.
“I am here to perform like every other player and I am in good shape after the last weekend’s win in the Champions league. Every player competing in the world cup, are potential champions and I am looking forward to give my best again and hope for the best against the best in the world.”
— Quadri
The Draw
While the eight top-seeded players will automatically move into the knockout rounds on Saturday, Quadri and 11 others will battle for the remaining eight spots in the round of 16.
Group A
Hugo Calderano (Brazil)
Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus)
Emmanuel Lebesson (France)
Group B
Simon Gauzy (France)
Aruna Quadri (Nigeria)
Kanak Jha (United States)
Group C
Jeong Sangeun (Korea)
Gustavo Tsuboi (Brazil)
Panagiotis Gionis (Greece)
Group D
Jonathan Groth (Denmark)
Mattias Falck (Sweden)
Heming Hu (Australia)
Top Eight Players
Fan Zhendong (China)
Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Germany)
Timo Boll (Germany)
Lin Gaoyuan (China)
Lee Sangsu (South Korea)
Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan)
Koki Niwa (Japan)
Wong Chun Ting (Hong Kong)