Egypt’s Omar Assar is back as Africa’s top-rated star by moving to 17th in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings after a stellar outing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Afrosport reports.
The Egyptian became the first African to reach consecutive quarter-finals at the Olympics, before losing to Sweden’s Truls Moregard.
The only other African table tennis player to reach the quarter-final at the Olympics is Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, a feat he achieved at the Rio 2016 Games.
Quadri, who exited the Olympics in the round of 64, currently occupies the 20th spot in the latest world rankings.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw climbed six places to 83rd, while 2019 African Games champion, Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo leapt 12 places to 92nd.
Nigerian-born Saheed Idowu of Congo Brazzaville has also moved up 16 places to the 100th spot.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref continues to dominate the African rankings in the women’s category, ascending two places to 24th, while Hana Goda also made gains, moving up to 31st.
Nigeria’s Offiong Edem is back in the top 100, climbing 14 places up to 97th.
