by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Now 37 years old, he has experience on his side and once in a rhythm, the power of his forehand attacking strokes can cause the very best problems. Furthermore, the appetite for the sport would appear as strong as ever.

He spoke to Olalekan Okusan, the ITTF-Africa Press Officer.

“I don’t know exactly when I will stop playing table tennis because as long as I am still in good shape in terms of fitness coupled with the enjoyment I derive from playing under pressure, particularly in important matches, I will not want to stop playing the game.

Table tennis has been my life; I cannot quantify what the sport has given me in life. The most important thing is that people in table tennis have supported me in difficult moments of my life. For sure it has helped me to filter people in terms of good and bad.

Table tennis is improving as a game and it is becoming very fast and more powerful; the advent of social media is really helping table tennis to become more popular and accepted globally.

For sure it’s very good and healthy to have close competition in Africa between Omar Assar and Quadri Aruna, it rubs off positively on their world ranking; their matches are always very special and they are both good fighters. It is a good advertisement for Africa.

I look forward to more improvement in Africa”