World Table Tennis number one Long Ma displayed why he occupies that position after beating Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri in their quarter-final Singles match at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics.
Ma was imperious, and very effective with his game-plan, running out with a 4-0 win in a match the Chinese totally dominated to win in straight sets 11-4, 11-2, 11-6, 11-7.
Initially Quadri looked calmed and didn’t appeared scared facing the best men’s Table Tennis player in the world, however when he missed a serve his confidence started dropping and Ma capitalized.
Ma ran away with the first game, and even stretched it further in game 2 with the Nigerian only able to gain two points in that game, but after having a word in his corner, Quadri somehow put up a stronger fight in the last two games but Ma’s experience came to bear to see him through.
On a day Quadri was marking his birthday, he would hold his head high knowing that he made history going the farthest an African player has even been at the Olympics, and by virtue of stunning two top ranked players en route the quarter-final, Quadri will see his ratings improve and has no doubt endeared himself to his teeming Nigerian fans.
