Quadri wins bronze as Assar, Meshref emerge ITTF Africa Cup champions

Egypt’s duo of Omar Assar and Dina Meshref emerged champions of the 2019 ITTF Africa Cup concluded Monday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Number three seed, Assar, defeated the host nation favourite and top seed, Aruna Quadri (11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3) in the semifinal before working hard to overcome compatriot and number two seed, Ahmed Saleh (10-12, 11-3, 11-6, 12-14, 11-3, 9-11, 11-3) in the final.

Saleh last won the competition far back in 1997 when the second edition of the tournament was staged in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Quadri had to settle for third place after beating Algeria’s Sami Kherouf, the no.8 seed 11-6, 12-10, 11-5 in the third place play-off.

Read Also: ITTF Africa Cup: Quadri calls for fans’ support ahead s’final battle vs Assar

In the Women’s category, Meshref as the top seed had in the semi-final stage beaten Nigeria’s Offiong Edem, the no.2 seed, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8.

A place in the final booked, it was a family affair as Meshref defeated her cousin, Yousra Helmy, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-9, 11-1, 11-8) to claim the title.

Earlier Yousra Helmy had beaten Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci in a tense semi-final contest (11-1, 10-12, 11-2, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12, 12-10) to reserve her place in the title decider.

Offiong Edem then gained third place, accounting for Fadwa Garci in five games (8-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 11-8).

Gold and silver for Egypt, personal triumphs for Assar and Meshref; it is third time Omar Assar has won the title, for Meshref an incredible seventh. Moreover, it is six in a row.

Assar will be making his third appearance in the Men’s World Cup in Chengdu. He previously appeared in 2015 in Halmstad in 2017 in Liège.

For Dina Meshref it will be her seventh venture in the Women’s World Cup. She made her debut in 2011 in Singapore, and since 2014 in Linz, she has been ever present.

The Women’s World Cup will be staged from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October, while the Men’s World Cup from Friday 29th November to Sunday 1st December.

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