Aruna Quadri is set to go head-to-head with South Korea’s Cho Dae-seong in the men’s singles round of 16 of the ongoing World Table Tennis Saudi Smash 2024 tournament in Jedda.
This comes after a thrilling victory for Aruna, who displayed immense resilience to secure a hard-fought win against Lee Sang Su of South Korea in the round of 32.
In an encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City Infinity Arena, Aruna clawed his way back from behind to defeat Lee Sang Su with a scoreline of 3-2. Despite losing the first two sets, Aruna rallied to win the next three, showcasing his determination and skill on the table.
Aruna’s journey in the Saudi Smash 2024 began with a thrilling victory over Sharath Kamal Achanta, a seasoned player with numerous accolades to his name.
Despite facing a 2-0 deficit, Aruna mounted a remarkable comeback to clinch the match, much to the delight of fans and supporters.
Reflecting on his performance, Aruna expressed gratitude to his supporters and emphasized the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
He said; “It was really, really difficult to come back from 0-2 down. I was 8-2 up in the first game and 9-5 up in the second set, but I lost both, so I almost gave up. But I told myself not to give up, and the spirit of never giving up made the difference. In the end, I was very happy to win. I knew it was going to be 50/50 today. Achanta is a good player and a legend. I have learned a lot from him growing up. But I wasn’t intimidated. Thanks to all the fans who came to support me. They didn’t let me give up. They were the reason I kept on fighting, so I want to say thanks to all of them.”