Following his first-round win, Aruna faced Lee Sang Su of South Korea in a thrilling second-round encounter as the world-ranked 19th Nigerian dominated the early stages, winning the first two games 11-9 each.
Quadri Aruna continues his impressive run at the WTT Saudi Smash, securing another victory in the men's singles.
Following his first-round win, Aruna faced Lee Sang Su of South Korea in a thrilling second-round encounter as the world-ranked 19th Nigerian dominated the early stages, winning the first two games 11-9 each.
21:31 - 05.05.2024
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However, Lee Sang Su launched a fierce comeback, taking the third and fourth games 9-11 and 7-11 to force a deciding game.
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The final game was a nail-biting affair, Aruna raced to a 4-1 lead, but Lee Sang Su fought back to tie it at 4-4. Despite Aruna's powerful shots, the Korean opponent showcased remarkable resilience, even leading 10-8 at one point.
07:29 - 15.04.2024
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Aruna displayed true championship spirit, clawing his way back point by point. He capitalized on missed shots from his opponent and tied the score at 10-10. Though Lee Sang Su gained another point advantage, Aruna's unwavering determination shone through. He matched the Korean shot for shot, eventually securing a dramatic 13-11 victory.
With this hard-fought win, Aruna becomes the second player to reach the round of 16, joining Iran's Noshad Alamiyan.
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Aruna next challenge will be another Korean opponent, Daeseong Cho, in their match scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th.