Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna kicked off his campaign with his new side Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg in the Russian Premier Table Tennis League with a 100 percent win record in all his matches, earning them a fourth-round victory at the Russian Table Tennis Centre in Moscow.
Aruna teamed up with Russian national champion Alexander Shibaev and Chinese international An Yan, and they won all five of their matches to top the league table ahead of their close rival UMMC Verkhnyaya Psyhma.
The world No. 14 played in three of the five matches and claimed victory in all his matches to start with a perfect record at his new club.
The Nigerian salvaged victory for Fakel-Gazprom in the final matches played on Sunday, as he played the fourth game, which earned his team a 3-1 win to end the fourth round unbeaten.
An ecstatic Aruna praised his new teammates for their part in the team’s victory and also spoke about the competitiveness of the Russian league.
“I am happy making my debut in Russia as the league to me is competitive because nothing is sure for you in any match. Even unranked players are difficult to play against in the league but my team has assembled a strong contingent that can withstand any team in the league,” he said.
“I won all my matches but it was not easy because most of my opponents are experienced players and they really came out to match us strength-for-strength.”
“I am indeed delighted that my debut ended very well and the management of the team were so happy with our performance as they are ready to surrender the title this year,” the African No. 1 added.
Aruna joined the Russian club from Bundelisga side TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell earlier this year and was unveiled on January 30 in the headquarters of the Gazprombank in Moscow.
