ITTF World Rankings: Young Nigeran Table Tennis Stars Get Improved Ratings, Aruna Remain African Best

Nigeria’s young table tennis stars, Matthew Kuti and Muizz Adegoke, continued their steady rise on the global stage after both players moved up five places in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings for Week 41, released on Tuesday.

The upward movement comes in a week that saw several Nigerian players record positive shifts across the men’s and women’s standings, signalling renewed momentum for the country ahead of the ITTF African Championships in Tunis.

Veteran Quadri Aruna remains Nigeria’s highest-ranked player, holding firm at 25th position with 1,185 points. The 37-year-old continues to lead the African continent, staying ahead of Egypt’s Omar Assar and Youssef Abdelaziz, both of whom sit outside the world’s top 30.

Behind Aruna, 19-year-old Kuti continued his impressive climb, now ranked 195th with 89 points, following a string of strong performances in international youth and challenger tournaments.

Abdulbasit Abdulfatai also made progress, moving up four places to 202nd with 81 points, while Commonwealth Games medalist Olajide Omotayo jumped to 208th. Taiwo Mati, another fast-improving player, climbed to 220th, while 17-year-old Adegoke, a standout performer at the African Youth Championships, rose five places to 237th.

Further down, Kolasi Wasiu (352nd), Rilwan Akanbi (405th), Mathew Fabunmi (407th), and Azeez Solanke (432nd) also improved their positions, reflecting an encouraging wave of development in Nigeria’s men’s table tennis rankings.

In the women’s category, Fatimo Bello continues to lead the pack as Nigeria’s top-ranked female player. She retained her 120th position with 189 points, maintaining her stronghold on the national scene.

Ajoke Ojomu climbed two places to 156th, while Aminat Fashola moved up to 180th. Sukurat Aiyelabegan and Favour Ojo also recorded gains, now sitting 208th and 270th respectively. Hope Udoaka (286th), Kabirat Ayoola (309th), and Aziza Sezuo (316th) rounded out the country’s growing list of globally ranked women.

Six emerging talents: Aishat Rabiu, Iyanuoluwa Falana, Onyinyechi Mbah, Asiaju Bisola, Maryam Ahmed, and Joy Emmanuel, also moved four places up each, settling in the 379-385 range as they continue their push for more international exposure.

Globally, China’s dominance remains unshaken, sweeping the top spots in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Among the men, Wang Chuqin sits comfortably at number one with 10,900 points, followed by compatriot Lin Shidong on 8,075. Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is third, Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto fourth, and France’s Félix Lebrun fifth. Sweden’s Truls Moregard, Germany’s Benedikt Duda, and Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic round out the top 10.

The women’s rankings tell a similar story of Chinese supremacy. Sun Yingsha leads the world with 11,600 points, trailed by Wang Manyu (8,850) and Chen Xingtong (6,075). Kuai Man and Wang Yidi complete an all-Chinese top five, while Macau’s Zhu Yuling climbed to sixth. Japan’s Miwa Harimoto, Mima Ito, and Satsuki Odo occupy the next three spots, with China’s Chen Yi in tenth.

The latest rankings arrive just days before the ITTF African Championships in Tunis, where Aruna will captain Nigeria’s men’s team alongside Mati, Omotayo, Kuti, and Abdulfatai.

On the women’s side, Ajoke Ojomu will lead a youthful squad featuring Ojo, Rabiu, Ayoola, and Aiyelabegan.

The tournament which is used as a qualification process for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships is scheduled to commence on October 12.